Patrick Tull Reads from "The Reverse of the Medal" by Patric

[Renaiya]

I prefer Simon Vance's reading. He has so many different voices at his command, it's almost like listening to a narration with a full cast. I've listened to Patrick Tull's as well, and he's my second favorite reader of O'Brian's works.

[cnlaw]

How did he die?

[greenslime27]

A magnificent interpreter of the works of Patrick O'Brian, he brought these wonderful stories to life for me.

Aubrey/Maturin will always belong to Patrick Tull, thank you. RIP

[mozartfx1]

Killick!, Killick there!

[95ersUniverse]

Patrick and Patrick. An incredible, rare, wonderful, surpassing, absolutely fantastic combination.

[paulyearwig]

what a fellow he was! what a loss to the world. i've watched this a dozen times and it still makes me tear up. rest in peace patrick a-cushla

[fortyfivesemi]

God set a flower on your head Sir !

(btw, the face never does match the mental image you get from just the voice!)

[heino090285]

I started Reading the books ón my own, but being Danish i had a hard time understanding All the suddleties in the tekst so i wass delighted to discover his recordings, simpley perfect (please excuse my spelling)...

[funpete]

WOW- by coincidence, this is one of the most recent books I listened to - Having sailed the seven seas with Jack and Steven, at the end of this scene - I wept.

[ponto]

Thanks, funpete - Patrick excelled as an actor, and a reader.

[DevilinDeep]

Awesome narration the second best i've ever heard. what an orator.

[NewHomemaker]

Oh, Mr Tull, I wish I'd known you. Your voice, reading Mr O'Brian, has gotten me through the hardest times I've ever faced.

[aristotleschild]

Heart-wrenching, especially to a fan of the series and audiobooks. Tull certainly got muscular tone of the prose right. I wish I had read these books a little earlier, so that I could have written letters of admiration to these two artists.

[thebestofmosdef]

I just finished listening to the recorded audio of George Orwell's "Down and Out in Paris and London" read by Patrick Tull. Fantastic!

[Morecake2]

I've heard that O'Brian didn't quite approve of Tull's narration, as he is said to have wanted the understated to remain that way. But for fans of the canon, there is nothing better.

Even though I have read them, Maturin, Aubrey, Killick and the rest will always sound like Tull's personation, in my head.

In Tull's death, we have to honour him: his rich voice was earned the hard way.

He too gave his life to his art.

[ponto]

Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Morecake2. Tull was indeed the aural embodiment of the Canon for so many of us. But I had heard the opposite - that Tull was O'Brian's favorite narrator. Be that as it may, we all miss both of the Patricks.

[Morecake2]

Absolutely.

The most amusing thing is that most people have no idea how addictive the whole world of Aubrey & Maturin is.

Postcaptain69 says he's read them 10 times and this is not unusual.

[antheia77]

Ponto, you're correct. Mr. Tull was the only narrator he approved of, and they were, in fact, quite fond of one another.

[jrmurph]

I got the audio book for Reverse of the Medal but didn't look at the narrator. When it wasn't Patrick Tull i had to stop the recording. I cannot listen if anyone but Tull. He is the greatest.

[NotPotable]

@jrmurph It's exactly the same for me. I checked out the series from my library, adored Mr. Tull's narrations, and was disappointed and upset when several of their audio volumes were by another narrator. (One, with a pinched, nasal voice, was particularly disagreeable.)

It seems to me that a love of the works in Mr. Tull's voice shines through as he reads. He gives life to the prose and characters to such an extent that I don't wish to even give other narrators a chance.

RIP, and thank you.

[gillianinoz]

Mr Tull's readings aren't available here in Australia, and while I really enjoy the readers I have heard, after seeing this video I realise I have missed a real treat. What a marevelous, passionate reading!

I hope one day I will have access to his readings of my favourite series ever.

Thanks for sharing!

[ponto]

Thanks, gillianinoz.

[blueyesdetector]

Patrick O'Brian and Patrick Tull were true treasures of the literary world, now lost to us. Seeing Tull perform here is a great treat. What I wouldn't give to have video performances of all of these books done by him. Every book he has recorded has been spot on. When Tull's voice ends in mid sentence in "21," tears run down my face. Like Aubrey and Maturin, these two were made for each other.

[mwp62]

Bravo Tull!  Also, as to your ending admonition, I believe those were the

words of Jimmy Buffet : )

[postcaptain69]

My initial exposure to Aubrey/Maturin was Mr. Tull's rendering. I have since read them all 10 times or more. They are my greatest reading joy. Tull reading O'brian is as good as anything Michael Jordon did on the basketball court or Elvis or the Beatles recorded. It is amoung the best things I have seen human beings do. I am sad to hear he is dead as I did not know it til I read it here.

[reggiecx]

I had read all the novels and when I discovered Patrick tulls

readings I was initially dubious then overjoyed.

It was like discovering these great novels all over again

and his readng helped me appreciate them even more and catch

some of the wit and nuances I had been too dull to 'smoke' the first time.

Thank you Patric

[raceygofast]

I have thus far read the Aubrey/Maturin series five times and am never tired of it. Before today I had never heard of Mr. Tull, but I have to say that was a masterfull reading of one of the most moving passages O'Brian or anyone else has ever written. It is hard to stay dry eyed when "the cheering began". Thank you sir and well done!

[stickpictures]

The great narrator of the world! What a joy it was, recently, to find I can rediscover the O'Brian novels anew--having read them all several times--thanks to the pitch perfect renderings of Mr Tull. So sad he's no longer with us. Thanks for posting this!

[cornlungs]

Outstanding.

Thanks for taking the time to post this gem.

I hadn't had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Tull before this, and I'm happy to note this as the beginning of a long acquaintance with his works.

[94z07]

Which I'm listening to them again, ain't I?

[charliesacoolkid]

@94z07 brilliant absolutely brilliant

[Caligulita]

If you haven't heard Patrick Tull's Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, I highly suggest you look into it. I can't praise it enough.

[utubenamex]

I have listened to the series at least three times. There is something magical about Tull + O'Brian. I cannot stop listening. Thanks for the upload!

God bless them both.

[bayardcoll]

A great reader interpreting a great author -- many thanks for posting!

[housepiglet]

What an absolute joy to see the man whose readings of Patrick O'Brian's great novels has brought me so much happiness. Much gratitude to you for posting this gem :)

[SteveRT2006]

Just as Patrick O'Brian has ruined me for lesser authors, Patrick Tull has ruined me for lesser narrators, their souls to the devil.

[Bondzy1220]

In the words of Stephen Maturin him self

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph! that was splendid, truly splendid"

 thanks for the vid. its a real treasure

[MongosGoat]

Very moving...Tull was one of..if not the greatest narrator of prose, a one man theater company...I have all his audio books and this is the first time Ive had the honour to see him at work...thanks so much

[drcoxcentral]

I listened him doing Pickwick Papers and I say he is one of the joyful narrators of audiobook history. Can't believe he died!

[GregSamsa]

Capital :)

[nervouspete]

Amazing bringing to life of a very moving passage. Thank you so much for posting.

[gti2165]

I would read the whole series again(which I am,and will again)to lead up to this passage and the one at the end of "Blue at the Mizzen". Never before have I sobbed audibly.

[jankapoor]

Thank you so much for making this available. I have the complete set of CDs and am listening to them for the second time (I do a lot of driving!). Its' wonderful to see his gestures and facial expressions as well as hearing his amazing range of voices.

[Steampunkgirl]

I second what Gilly said. This is one of the most memorable fragments of O'Brian's A/M series. I've been trying to hold my tears all through the video, specially after reading in your comment that Patrick Tull left us not a day ago. Thank you very dearly for this video.

[ponto]

Thanks, Steampunkgirl, and everyone else, too. I'm happy to to be able to share Patrick's memorable reading.

[n6tqs]

Thnaks for putting that up. It brings back good memories.

I'm the man in the striped T shirt at 6:08.

[prairie11]

Thank you for sharing - *S*. I second what Gilly said above.

[esteven69]

Patrick Tull is the reader of the world. And that excerpt never ceases to make me sniffle. Thanks for putting it up

[ponto]

Thank you, Gillywraith - glad you liked it.

[Gillywraith]

Thank you so very much for putting this up. It's the one scene in the entire series that I don't think I shall ever forget. I teared up hearing it again now.

Thank you.