One intriguing aspect of O'Brian's writing is the way he communicates the spirit of the age about which he writes in a "warts and all" portrait. He does not gild the lily—or the farthing. Instead, the reader encounters medical ignorance that induces shudders, unchecked imperialism, class-based arrogance, and casual and unexamined racism, homophobia, and gender bias. In many cases these characteristics, so unacceptable to many in the contemporary world, are expressed by fictional people who are otherwise charming, witty, courageous, and even noble. The Commodore makes a particularly good example of O'Brian's mixing of attractive characters with unattractive behaviors and attitudes that nonetheless have the ring of historical authenticity.

The novel shows us a world in which the British are actively suppressing the slave trade, or at least some parts of it, after having profited from it for many years; ironically the same squadron...