Absolutely wonderful telling of exactly what went into make of the Master & Commander movie. I have to say I am awed by all the intricate work and hour upon hour of research that went into this production to make it as authentic as possible.

From the sails to the men's shoes, every detail was carefully researched and incorporated into the movie. Even though, as a viewer, we might not see it, or just catch a glimpse, the authenticity is there.

The only negative thing I can say is how disappointed I am, considering all this attention to detail, that the studio did not make any other movies from the O'Brian cannon. It was mentioned that the main focus was on relationships, which is evident, but there is still a bunch of information available from the books that would have made a great movie, especially with all the sets, props and costumes in place already. These studio executives can be such philistines.

Another book to add to my collection of books about the Aubrey-Maturin series. Pretty soon I'll have more companion books than there are books in the series.

I like behind-the-scenes books about making movies. This is a very good book of that genre. Good pictures. But it still doesn't make me want to watch the movie or even read the book.
chapters are
Setting Sail (treatment & development); The far side of the world (filming in Baja, Mexico); Below the Decks (behind the scenes); Jack Aubrey’s Navy (an authentic recreation); Mustering the Crew (interviews with the cast); Patrick O’Brian (putting genius into genre). Glossary of naval terms.