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'''Clarissa Oakes''' (titled ''The Truelove'' in the U.S.A.), (1993) is the historical novel set during the Napoleonic Wars written by Patrick O'Brian. It again features the duo, "Lucky" Captain Jack Aubrey and his friend and companion Stephen Maturin.

Contents

Plot summary

Characters in "Clarissa Oakes"

Ships in "Clarissa Oakes"

The British

Other

Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science

Literary significance & criticism

Reviews

Editions

Sources, references, external links, quotations

Footnotes

Plot summary

In 'Clarissa Oakes', a young female convict, Clarissa Harvill, is smuggled aboard HMS ''Surprise'' in Sydney by Midshipman Oakes, to whom she is subsequently married by Aubrey. Her presence and activities cause much dissension aboard and upset the smooth running of the ship. Despite this Aubrey successfully adds the (fictional) Polynesian island of Moahu to the British crown and recaptures a British merchantman. This ship, the ''Truelove'', had fallen to the ''Franklin'', a privateer flying American colours and manned by Frenchmen from Canada and Louisana. They are followers of a French social philosopher who wishes to establish an egalitarian society on the island. While Aubrey is supporting one of the tribes on the island, the Frenchmen are supporting another. The rivalry is concluded when the two tribes meet in battle, with the tribe that Aubrey is supporting victorious.
Mrs. Oakes proves to have knowledge which is helpful to Stephen Maturin in his role as a counter-intelligence agent.
'Clarissa Oakes' was published in the U.S. as 'The Truelove', which is the name of a ship in the novel, but may also refer to the woman.

Characters in "Clarissa Oakes"

★ Jack Aubrey - Captain of HMS ''Surprise''.

★ Stephen Maturin - ship's surgeon, friend to Jack and intelligence officer.

★ Midshipman Billy Oakes - midshipman in ''Surprise''.

★ Clarissa Harvill - fugitive prisoner and stowaway, bride of Billy Oakes.

★ Puolani - Queen of the Polynesian island of Moahu.

Ships in "Clarissa Oakes"

The British

★ HMS ''Surprise''

★ HMS ''Eclair''

★ ''Daisy'' (whaler)

★ ''Truelove'' (merchantman)

Other

★ ''Franklin'' (privateer, American colours but ownership unclear)

Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science

Literary significance & criticism

Reviews

"What lifts The Truelove into the highest ranks of fiction is what it shares with the rest of its author's writing: page after page of unmistakably original insights into the mysteries of the world."'' - Dick Adler, Chicago Tribune^[1]

Editions

★ Audio Edition Recorded Books, LLC; Unabridged Audio edition narrated by Patrick Tull (ISBN 1419302728)

Sources, references, external links, quotations

Footnotes

1. Dick Adler, Chicago as quoted at