Flying Colours (Horatio Hornblower)

by C.S. Forester

Flying Colours

by
C.S. Forester

book data

640 ratings, 4.13 average rating, 27 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		35%
4		45%
3		17%
2		1%
1		0%

edit

published

1973 by Ulverscroft Large Print (first published 1938)

details

Hardcover, 384 pages

isbn

0854561773 (isbn13: 9780854561773)

description

This volume in the Hornblower series opens with Captain Horatio Hornblower a prisoner in the French fortress of Rosas, having had to surrender his shi…more

find at: Amazon • WorldCat • more options…

There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!

new topic
discuss this book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Goodreads Authors...: Historical Fiction Bookshelf	7	57	6 days ago, 10:07PM
100+ Books in 2010: Martha's 100 for 2009	1	15	Oct 11, 2009 02:41PM
100+ Books in 2010: Martha's 100 books for 2009	2	19	Oct 05, 2009 01:16PM

friend reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

lists with this book

This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists. Add this book to your favorite list »

other reviews (showing 1-20 of 808)

sort: default (?) | date
filters: all | text-only

Aug 02, 2009

Penny rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

Read in March, 2009

A game-changer in the Hornblower series. At the start of the book, Hornblower is a prisoner of war, on his way (along with the wounded Bush and loyal coxswain Brown) to Paris, where Napoleon will probably execute him. They escape and, a la the monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, somehow find their way to an isolated estate occupied by wonderfully civilized, loving people who take them in. Ultimately, however, the three know they will have to leave this house, make their way through France an...more A game-changer in the Hornblower series. At the start of the book, Hornblower is a prisoner of war, on his way (along with the wounded Bush and loyal coxswain Brown) to Paris, where Napoleon will probably execute him. They escape and, a la the monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, somehow find their way to an isolated estate occupied by wonderfully civilized, loving people who take them in. Ultimately, however, the three know they will have to leave this house, make their way through France and somehow attempt to get back to England.

When I was a teen, this was the one volume my father did not own of the series, so I went straight from "Ship of the Line" to "Commodore Hornblower." That was quite a jump. Between book 6 and book 8, Hornblower's circumstances change dramatically: professionally, financially, maritally. In "Flying Colours," Forester upturns the entire Hornblower universe, and the book has all the energy such an effort entails. I also liked the camaraderie among Hornblower, Bush and Brown -- a rare enough opportunity for Hornblower to have real companionship.

Speaking of supporting characters, however -- this is one of the books where I get furious with Forester's negligence about anyone other than Hornblower. The crew of the Sutherland was drawn from the Lydia, so anyone who is reading the series has gotten to know several of them over the past two books. Many of the crew had been killed and wounded at the end of "Ship of the Line," and at the start of "Flying Colours," Hornblower goes to visit the hospital and prison to check on the survivors. And Forester does not follow him. What happened to all the lieutenants, the warrant officers, the sailors whose names we know? One scene letting us know whether, say, Crystal makes it, would have been much appreciated.

Reading some other reviews, I see a few people comment on the Maria-Barbara-Marie triangle and how it reflects badly on Hornblower. All true, but I kind of like the fact that Forester makes his protagonist something of a cad. It's a humanizing detail. I can believe that he would be attractive to women, that he would himself be unaware of this, and that, in his obsession with himself and his profession, he would treat them cavalierly. (less)

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Mar 21, 2008

Curtiss rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

bookshelves: fiction, historical-novel, nautical-adventure

recommends it for: Anyone

This is a much more intimate tale than the other entrees in the series as it follows the adventures of Captain Hornblower, Lieutenant Bush, and Cox'n Brown from their incarceration, their collection by Colonel Caillard on Bonaparte's orders, and their subsequent escape before their trial and execution for violations of the Laws of War during the previous book, "Ship of the Line."

Captain Hornblower enjoys the pleasures of comradeship and shared adversity for perhaps the firs...more

Like this review? yes

3 comments

Jun 04, 2007

Siria rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

bookshelves: 20th-century, british-fiction, historical-fiction

Read in July, 2006

I think this is probably the shortest of the Hornblower novels, at only about 155 pages. Still, it's more than enough time for Horatio to expound meaningfully and at length about his Emo Man-Pain. Before I met Horatio - or at least, the book version of him - I did not think it was possible for someone born in the eighteenth century to have Emo Man-Pain. And yet he manages it with aplomb. I consistently want to smack him for his attitude towards Maria, and even more so for his attitude towards La...more

Like this review? yes

1 comment

Mar 06, 2009

Rosemary rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

Read in March, 2009

A good ending to the three book (Beat to Quarters / Ship of the Line / Flying Colours) saga; however, Hornblower's constant self-doubt is becoming tiresome...

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Feb 08, 2009

Talea rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

Read in February, 2009

Who would've known I would enjoy a story about a perfectly heroic, perfectly "manly" sailor so much? As a plus, I'm learning all about Napoleon and sailing. This was quite an enjoyable read.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Jul 14, 2008

Heather rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

Read in July, 2008

Now I'm really mad!!!! I wanted to give it one star because I'm so pissed at Hornblower I could punch him in the face. But the book was well written and it did hold my attention.

During the whole book he's mooning over Lady Barbara who is NOT his wife. Jerk. Then he does something with some other lady. Creep. And then moons over her and Lady Barbara some more while still thinking lovingly about his wife. ARGH!!!! NOT THE HORNBLOWER I KNOW AND LOVE.

Very disappoint...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Jan 26, 2010

Casey added it (review of isbn 0316289396)

I forgot how much I loved these until I started reading midshipman Hornblower

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Dec 02, 2009

Linda rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

Read in December, 2009

This is the best one yet. I will hate to finish this series.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Aug 20, 2008

Tom rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

Read in August, 1977

recommends it for: Young people looking for adventure

Flying Colours is the seventh (or eighth) book in the Hornblower saga written by C.S. Forester.

This is the least nautical adventure in the series with Hornblower languishing in prison after surrendering the Sunderland in the previous book.

His adventures in France with Lieutenant Bush and Coxswain Brown take up the majority of this volume.

I probably enjoyed this book the least as a boy because of the lack of naval action and the greater character development bu...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

May 10, 2009

Kathryn rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

Read in May, 2009

Hornblower is a bit of a scoundrel sometimes, but he can't help that women love him.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Jul 19, 2008

Merritt rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

I found this book to be one of my favorites in the series, even though it's not really about him and his ships. This book follows Hornblower after he gets captured by the French, and he escapes with a severely injured friend and then sails to glory. The only reason I gave this four stars was because of his little "moment" with Marie. It is not at all detailed, and only briefly mentioned, but it was so unnecessary and I got very angry with him and his lack of skills with women.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Oct 18, 2009

Dan rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

Read in October, 2009

Agreeing with some other reviews here, this is definitely a game-changer in the series; both in terms of the setting and in terms of a further insight into Hornblower's failings as a husband and lover. Even so, I'm getting to the point where I'm having a difficult time conjuring up new ways to expound upon Foresters rich, wonderful historical fiction style - and I've just leave it at that. If you're in the least bit curious about this series, please start reading it NOW.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Mar 20, 2008

Angie Bollard rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

Read in April, 2008

The last book ended with a cliff-hanger. Horatio took on 4 French ships, destroyed three of them and was captured along the Spanish coast by the last one. The book opens upon Horatio in prison, but quickly progresses as he is taken from Spain to be executed in Paris for crimes against the Empire. A daring escape ensues. I liked this book for his relationships to Brown and Bush that aren't really explained in the previous or following books.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Oct 29, 2008

Kathryn rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

bookshelves: classics

Read in January, 2006

I was absolutely loving this book until Hornblower decided to have an affair! I am sorry, but this is not the Horatio I know and love. The previous books set him up as a man of honor and honesty and strict discipline and then in this one he totally goes against character and betrays his wife and himself, by having an affair and not even feeling guilty about it?! So, so disappointed!

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Oct 19, 2007

Tommy rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

bookshelves: hornblower

Read in October, 2007

A really nice change of pace for the series, with Hornblower engaged in a land based adventure- as a prisoner, then as an escapee in France (and don't worry, there is an exciting naval battle as well!) Forester is one of those writers who is so skilled at plotting that I never stop to admire any of the writing, because I'm so caught up in the story. So I guess he did his job well.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Nov 04, 2007

Allison rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

Read in November, 2007

recommends it for: Series readers

This one really made HH human. It takes him off of the ship, and we get to see how much he really craves human companionship. And the end rather gives you everything you want for nearly everyone. I'm glad there are three more books, but if the series had ended here, I'd almost be happy.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Jan 22, 2008

Monissa rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

bookshelves: 90_books_for_2008

Read in January, 2008

This is part of a combined 3-in-1 volume, but I want count them all individually so I'm using this volume

Now read. Definitely liked this one better than the previous two. It has a beginning, middle & end so it felt it was going somewhere, and the characters seemed more real.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

Jun 23, 2008

Kathy rated it:

(review of isbn 0316289396)

Read in July, 2008

Hornblower's lust for Lady Barbara finally satisfied, the series as a whole is getting better. His escape from French prison was well-done. Now if only the man himself were more likable!

Like this review? yes

add a comment