The Far Side of the World
The Far Side of the World is the tenth Aubrey-Maturin novel by Patrick O'Brian, first published by Collins in 1984. Aubrey takes the Surprise round Cape Horn to guard British whalers in the Pacific, and the book gave its title and much of its plot to the 2003 film Master and Commander.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First edition
- Collins, 1984
- First published
- Collins, 1984
- Series
- Aubrey-Maturin series
The first edition of The Far Side of the World by Patrick O'Brian was published in London by Collins in 1984. We track 1 edition, with the points that separate the first printing from later ones.
Spot the first edition: Dust jacket, front flap: price of £8.95 printed, corner not clipped, no price sticker (first-issue jacket) Full identification guide
Which edition do you have?
First edition
Awards, adaptations and setting
Read next
- Comes after
- Treason's Harbour
In print
- Editions recorded
- 36 on Open Library, 24 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 3 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by Patrick O'Brian
CollectorsNot sure which edition you have, or want to tell other collectors about your copy?
Ask a question
Write a review
Read it or own it? Share what The Far Side of the World is like to read or collect.
Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Far Side of the World?
The first edition of The Far Side of the World by Patrick O'Brian was published in London by Collins in 1984.
How many editions of The Far Side of the World are there?
We track 1 edition of The Far Side of the World, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
What should I read after The Far Side of the World?
In order, it follows Treason's Harbour, according to Wikidata.
Where these facts come from
- The Far Side of the World, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Aubrey-Maturin series, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Patrick O'Brian, complete first edition set of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin novels, Sotheby's (sothebys.com)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 3 November 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.