First published 1979

The Fortune of War

by Patrick O'Brian

The Fortune of War is the sixth Aubrey-Maturin novel by Patrick O'Brian, first published by Collins in 1979; Norton's first US edition came in 1991. Set in the War of 1812, largely in Boston, it places Aubrey and Maturin in fictionalised versions of real frigate battles.

Editions tracked
1
First edition
Collins, 1979
First published
Collins, 1979
Series
Aubrey-Maturin series

The first edition of The Fortune of War by Patrick O'Brian was published in London by Collins in 1979. We track 1 edition.

Editions

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First edition

  1. 1st Collins1979 Hardback · Aubrey-Maturin series 6 I own The Fortune of War, Collins 1979 Log in to want this

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About the book

Awards, adaptations and setting

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In print

Editions recorded
27 on Open Library, 20 in English
Wikipedia
Articles in 5 languages

From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.

Same author

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Frequently asked questions

Who published the first edition of The Fortune of War?

The first edition of The Fortune of War by Patrick O'Brian was published in London by Collins in 1979.

How many editions of The Fortune of War are there?

We track 1 edition of The Fortune of War, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.

What should I read after The Fortune of War?

In order, it follows Desolation Island, according to Wikidata.

Sources

Where these facts come from

Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 3 November 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.