Stephen Maturin appears in the 20 volumes of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series, which begins with
Master and Commander. Part Catalan and part Irish, Stephen serves as an intelligence agent for England, as well as being the surgeon for the ships commanded by his best friend, Captain Jack Aubrey. In spite of all this, Stephen's real passion is nature, and he uses these voyages as much as possible to study foreign wildlife and plants. He also loves music and plays the cello, accompanying Jack's violin. Their friendship is one of opposites, but they balance each other, and their relationship forms the core of the books.
In Peter Weir's film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Stephen is played by the wonderful actor Paul Bettany.
