Chapters 1 and 2 Summary

Captain Jack Aubrey is appointed Commodore and sent to capture the French-held islands of La Reunion and Mauritius. Using a small fleet and drawing support from the British-held island of Rodriguez, Aubrey sets about reducing the French Indian Ocean fleet. Aubrey's particular friend, Stephen Maturin, assists by making intelligence contacts, distributing anti-French propaganda, and gathering local intelligence. After many months and several setbacks, Aubrey and Maturin are ultimately successful and both islands are captured from the French.

The novel opens at Captain Jack Aubrey's home in Hampshire, England; a country cottage of smallish size surrounded by failing gardens and otherwise typical country life. The year is 1810 and England is at war with France. Napoleon leads a global dynasty that threatens to conquer all of Europe and is held at bay only by England's superior naval might. Aubrey is ashore on half-pay...