Every once in a while along comes a writer of true genius an for some years Patrick O’Brien was dubbed “the best historical novelist you have never heard of” or some such title that was sadly true to too long.  However, for a few years before his death he did become famous and made his chosen field the sea story popular – perhaps more popular than it has ever been.  Before Aubrey and Maturin stole into reader’s hearts O’Brien was a writer of other tales that were no less thrilling and perfectly written.  The first of these – published just after O’Brien’s 15th birthday – was Caesar.  Now, although I am 99% sure (you can never be completely sure about genetics these days) that such a thing as a Giant Panda – Leopard cross cannot exist it doesn’t matter a jot in this writer’s hands.  Caesar springs into life and narrates his autobiography in a way that Kipling would have envied without a drop of cuteness or tub-thumping animal rights (two things that most contemporary animal novels have in abundance).  Caesar tells us of his early life in the jungle with its savagery and his capture and naming with the same matter-of-fact dry wit that makes Maturin such a memorable character.  O’Brien had never visited any jungles but he recreates one vividly and with an economy of words but a depth of feeling and description that brings it all to bright life.  A short book but then “less is more”.  One to hang on to in case you have any grandchildren.