The Yellow Admiral is the eighteenth naval historical novel in the Aubrey-Maturin series by English author Patrick O'Brian, first published in 1996.

He sails her on blockade duty around Brest, France, under an admiral who dislikes him for actions on land and makes trouble for Aubrey in the Royal Navy.

Aubrey suspends himself from the Navy List to avoid the worst career fate, being yellowed, set aside with no squadron of his own, until his reputation can be salvaged, to which end, Napoleon lends a hand by restarting the war.

Critical reception varied, from "taking his readers for granted",[1] "an interim novel"[2] or "somewhat predictable, nonetheless full of life"[3] to "another excellent adventure"[4] and "the top of his elegant form".

Aubrey's relationship with his wife is noted as a strong point of this novel, as is the sly humor and some of the "set pieces", like the boxing match and actions at sea during the blockade.

Maturin's vast wealth is tied up in Spain, where authorities, informed by Jean Dutourd, are displeased at his activities in Peru, a Spanish colony.

On land, Aubrey opposes the enclosing of the common, Simmons Lea, which has been proposed in the House by his neighbour, Captain Griffiths.

Aubrey is watching a boxing match between Barret Bonden and Evans, Griffith's gamekeeper, when the orders arrive at Woolcombe.

At the dark of the moon in heavy fog, Aubrey puts Maturin ashore in France with the Catalan agent, Inigo Bernard.

She signals to the fleet, and proceeds to take Les Deux Frères, which proves a rich prize, having captured two Guinea coast merchant ships.

The Admiral informs his captains of the progress in the war on land, where Napoleon is making errors and peace talks are underway but not yet successful.

Unexpectecly, Lord Keith, commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean, sends orders to Aubrey reinstating him because Napoleon has escaped from Elba.

Then follow eleven novels beginning with The Surgeon's Mate that might take five or six years to happen but are all pegged to an extended 1812.

Kirkus Reviews found this novel to be "Another excellent adventure, complete with period-piece arcana, for oceanic literature's oddest and arguably most appealing couple.

Aboard ship, the plot revives, "the death of a midshipman has the authentic O'Brian tang of shocking maritime violence mingled with tenderness.

"[2] In a similar vein, while reviewing a later book in the series, John Casey writing in The Washington Post said: "Among O'Brian's fans there was some disquiet when The Yellow Admiral came out.

"[7] Terry Teachout writing in The New York Times said he felt "vaguely disappointed by the last three or four installments of the Aubrey-Maturin chronicle, .

On the other hand, he said, "Fine as they are, these books are of their kind: brilliant entertainments, rich in implication and almost certainly of permanent interest, yet not quite up to the mark set by Austen and Trollope.

"[3] Publishers Weekly found splendid storytelling from a true master, specifically "O'Brian is at the top of his elegant form here."

They highlighted Aubrey's challenges in the blockade and with his wife; Maturin scheming with Chilean independence leaders; and the "wealth of sly humor (Navy officers' talk is "really not fit for mixed company because of its profoundly nautical character"), some splendid set pieces (a bare-knuckle boxing match, lively sea actions), characters who are palpably real and, as always, lapidary prose.

Napoleon was losing and winning battles on the ground in 1813 and early 1814, but his western flank was weak, and Wellington's army had crossed Portugal and Spain, in April taken Toulouse on its way to Paris.