Although O'Brian is best known for his Napoleonic Wars sea stories, he also wrote IMO the very best biolgraphy of Pablo Picasso. I frankly didn't give a hoot about PP but while reading the sea stories I learned of the bio and bought it just to see what it was like. I was impressed, not so much with PP who was (arguably justifiably) a colossal egotist, but with O'Brian's writing.