Special thanks to Steven S. and Mozbeet for commissioning one of my favorite films, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, based on the Patrick O’Brian series that are my very favorite books of all time. Thank god Jim thinks it’s awesome too, or there might have been bloodshed. We discuss the film’s historicity and verisimilitude, the unique relationship between Captain Jack and Doctor Maturin, life aboard an 19th century Man o’ War, and I make a pitch for reading the original novels.

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