X-Book

A Dangerous Game

Click Buy to Log in and see personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

The astonishing true story of Thomas Cochrane – naval hero, political radical and inspiration for Patrick O’Brian’s Jack Aubrey – whose audacity at sea, scandals on land and battles across empires make for a tale as thrilling as any novel.

Cochrane’s life was even more remarkable than the fiction it inspired. A hero of the Napoleonic Wars, known for destroying the French Atlantic fleet in one explosive attack, he was an equally aggressive force in British politics as the radical MP for Westminster.

Cochrane’s fortunes turned in 1814, when he was convicted of a fraud on the Stock Exchange. After escaping from prison, he later reinvented himself as a revolutionary admiral, helping the Chileans, Peruvians, Brazilians and Greeks in their struggles for independence.

In A Dangerous Game, the Sunday Times-bestselling historian Peter Moore draws on newly uncovered materials to bring Cochrane vividly to life. Bold, rebellious and uncompromising, he saw the world as a contest to be won – at sea, in politics, even in scandal – and played it more dangerously than any man of his era.

'I wish Patrick O'Brian was alive to read this' NIKOLAI TOLSTOY
'A master historian and storyteller... an extraordinary subject' MATTHEW PARKER
'Brilliant, pacy and utterly enthralling' ANTONIA SENIOR

© Peter Moore 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Critics Review

I could only wish Patrick O'Brian was alive to have read this
NIKOLAI TOLSTOY
The brilliant, dashing, outrageous Thomas Cochrane, who inspired so many works of thrilling fiction, has received a fitting tribute; Peter Moore’s A Dangerous Game unfolds the events of this amazing life with a verve worthy of the man.
CAROLINE ALEXANDER, author of The Endurance and The Bounty
A master historian and storyteller meets a truly extraordinary subject. The result is history that explodes off the page
MATTHEW PARKER, author of One Fine Day
An extraordinary biography... a brilliant, pacy and utterly enthralling account of one of the greatest characters in naval fiction. If you are a Hornblower fan, or a Jack Aubrey obsessive, this account of the man whose real life exploits inspired the greatest Age of Sail novelists is unmissable. As a lifelong devotee of Patrick O'Brian and CS Forester, I read this true-life account of Lord Cochrane's exploits with deep pleasure and the occasional moment of delighted recognition as the fictional and the real collided
ANTONIA SENIOR, author of Stalin's Apostles
With wonderfully balletic, graceful prose, Moore thrillingly brings Thomas Cochrane’s absurdly entertaining story to life. From the Napoleonic wars to Latin American revolutions, Moore vividly captures the brilliant, brave and brooding naval hero in all his complexity. A Dangerous Game is history and biography at its finest
EDWARD SHAWCROSS, author of The Last Emperor of Mexico
Thomas Cochrane’s life was almost absurdly eventful: a fearless warrior, a naval hero, a politician and an unlikely revolutionary, he was also a symbol of his turbulent and rumbustious age. Peter Moore’s gripping account perfectly encapsulates all of his vices and virtues. A triumph
RICHARD STRACHAN, author of Night Fire and The Unrecovered
A meticulously researched, widely accessible, highly entertaining and, at times, shocking book. Cochrane was, most definitely, the best kind of hero: purged, loved, misunderstood, dangerous, humble, and, importantly, always for the people
LOUIS D HALL, author of In Green
Author Peter Moore
Narrator Ric Jerrom, Peter Moore
Duration 27 hours and 24 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781529974898
Format Audiobook
Publisher Random House
Genre Biography: historical, political and military, Colonialism and imperialism, Naval forces and warfare, Revolutions, uprisings, rebellions
Availability AU, GB, IE

More from the same

Author

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.