Conversation so far:
What did Patrick O'Brian publish as Patrick O'Brian?
non-fiction anthology A Book of Voyages (1947.
What other pen names did he use?
CANNOTANSWER.
Did he write anything besides prose fiction?
non-fiction anthology A Book of Voyages (1947) attracted little attention.
Was any of his work besides Master and Commander turned into a movie?
CANNOTANSWER.

Question: Was he successful when he was alive?
Self-contained rewrite: Was Patrick O'Brian successful when he was alive?