Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (Hornblower Saga: Chronological Order #1)

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05  ·  rating details  ·  4,671 ratings  ·  351 reviews

The year is 1793, the eve of the Napoleonic Wars, and Horatio Hornblower, a seventeen-year-old boy unschooled in seafaring and the ways of seamen, is ordered to board a French merchant ship and take command of crew and cargo for the glory of England. Though not an unqualified success, this first naval adventure teaches the young midshipman enough to launch him on a series

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Hardcover, 310 pages
Published June 28th 1998 by Little Brown and Company (first published 1950)
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Community Reviews

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Werner
Both my oldest daughter and her husband are fans of the Hornblower series, and I've thoroughly enjoyed the A & E movie productions that I've seen of the Hornblower corpus; so I was motivated to read the books, and decided to begin at the beginning of Hornblower's career, with this novel. (My only previous acquaintance with Forester was from reading one of his short stories.) I'm glad to say it didn't disappoint!

Forester had a deft hand with maritime adventure (not all of it dealing with comb...more
Mike (the Paladin)
The Hornblower books by C. S. Forester are among the iconic novels of the English language, and with good reason in my opinion. I almost gave this a 4 star rating (because of my "stingy" with the 5 star ratings rule. After all 5 is the best you can give...how many can there be? But...)but decided I really do like these books to a 5 star level and they are very well written.

This was not the first Hornblower book...not the first written that is, but it is the first in chronological order in Hornbl...more
Jason Koivu
What a fun rollick with seamen!

Forester "began" his series after he'd already brought the narrative to completion by creating a series of prequels years after writing the first books, sort of like what goddamned George Lucas did with Star Wars. However, in this case the creator's craft had improved. The writing in Mr. Midshipman Hornblower has a better flow to it, so it's funny to get into the middle of the entire series to the previously written books and see the work get stiff and lose that ef...more
Scott
Oct 27, 2008 Scott rated it 3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Scott by: Helene Brown / Dana Cattani
Shelves: ships, regency, 1950s, war
"Hell!" said Hornblower, actually stamping his feet on the upper gangway in his anger. "Hell and damnation!"

C. S. Forester's Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (1950) finds himself all too often frustrated in a "savage, merciless world," where he is "very much alone ... depressed, and unhappy." It's a world where very little goes as Hornblower plans: each adventurous episode nearly ends his career – and his life. The young midshipman tempers his exasperation by relying on his keen, mathematical intellect...more
Siria
This wasn't the first of the Hornblower novels to be written, but chronologically it comes first in the series of novels covering his life. For someone who is just coming to the series, this mightn't be the best place to start.

Although you are introduced to Hornblower as a nervous young seventeen-year-old midshipman, the fact that the book is actually comprised of a dozen or so loosely connected short stories means that the flow is rather choppy. If you are coming to the series after seeing the...more
Laura
I thought this book was brilliant. Horatio was a nervous, shy, young hero, who accomplished things simply because he sees no other way. Forester described the ways of ship life, and the historical context of the novel very well. I saw the movie first, but I think Forester kept a more consistent characterization of Horatio. Horatio was a realistic 17 year old: he was insecure, and had a difficult time adjusting to the role of a leader. However, he was courageous when he needed to be. The plot was...more
Brett
Having read and re-read the O'Brian canon, I started on The Hornblower books to continue to feed my naval fiction habit. As I understand it, Forester actually wrote many of these books as serial short stories and the books are compilations.

I had a hard time enjoying the first two-thirds of this book. The chapters seemed completely unrelated to each other; no attempt was made at tying the chapters together into a cohesive whole. And I couldn't help comparing the writing style to O'Brian; this boo...more
Chris
In Horatio Hornblower, C.S. Forester created one of the most flawed heroes in military fiction. And not flawed in the "rogue" sort of way, like Richard Sharpe, but in a deeply human way. He does not strike you as a capable military officer; but he is undoubtedly brilliant, and an excellent commander. He is tone-deaf, awkward, shy, self-critical, self-doubting, and even prone to seasickness (something strange for a career naval officer). I think this, above anything else, is what makes him so app...more
Grace Best-Page
I really liked this series. I can't remember if I read them in publication or chronogical order, but it really doesn't matter, as long as you keep in mind that Forester began writing about Hornblower mid-way in his hero's career, so when he went back to fill in the backstory, he had to fudge a bit (Lt. Bush's story is the main inconsistency, but it's no big deal). Anyway, I combined the Lt. Bush from the TV movies (oh, man! Paul McGann!) with the character as written, and it worked for me (esp....more
Rachel
The gold standard for historical fiction of the Age of Sail, it's hard to top the Horatio Hornblower series. Chronologically, this is the first, and I highly recommend reading them in chronological order rather than publication order. If you have only seen the A&E series, you are missing much of the brilliance that is the Hornblower series. Although the production was excellent and the A&E films are high-quality historical entertainment, they vary greatly from the original books (althoug...more
Shane
The first in the Hornblower series and an introduction to the brave but mercurial hero. Although shy and gangly, 17 year old Midshipman Hornblower is brave despite his inner fears, willing to take incredible risks, is well read compared to his colleagues, is tone-deaf, and honours his commitments even if they commit him to captivity or put him in harm’s way. He embodies the phrase “Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun.”

This novel is a collection of linked short stories showing the...more
K.
Nov 21, 2011 K. rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: sea-story lovers, adventure lovers
I set myself to read a bunch of "girls" and "boys" books for fun this winter. I've almost finished the L. M. Montgomery books i.e. the "girls" and am beginning on the Hornblower set now.

I have to say, this is the first "boy/man" book I've read that I really do think would be much more enjoyable for a boy or a man! While Hornblower has some fantastic character qualities and there is some rip-roaring fun adventures (more of these toward the end of this book) there is so much actual description of...more
Basicallyrun
Anyone who follows my tumblr will be utterly unsurprised at my rating for this book (well, this whole series), given I've been spamming them for days with quotes from the books and screenshots from the films. I just... really like people with unhealthy ideas about honour and loyalty and Doing One's Duty, all of which Hornblower brings in spades. It doesn't hurt that in this book, Hornblower starts out *incredibly* shy and awkward and oh whoops, there I go over-identifying with fictional characte...more
Will Todd
This review is for the complete 11-book series of THE HORNBLOWER SAGA by C.S. Forester, which I just finished reading last night.

[Note: Individual books have individual star ratings (mostly 5-star, a few 4-star), but the descriptive review will be the same for each, and encompass the entire series, as follows.]

Actually, I just finished reading the complete series for the second time, the first being as a teenager some 30 years ago.

It's remarkable to me that I have only just this moment realized...more
Vasha7
This book consists of a series of loosely linked stories that cover the time between when Horatio Hornblower goes aboard a naval vessel for the first time, at the age of seventeen, and when he is promoted to lieutenant a few years later. They're mostly focused on elucidating the basis of his later character and actions. He has a few moments of brilliance here, and commits a number of blunders. By complete inexperience he lets the first prize he's given command of sink, which gives him a chance t...more
Mieczyslaw Kasprzyk
I suppose there must have been a time when terms such as "mizzen-mast" and "top-sail", and a whole load of nautical expressions, were quite normal parlance and every boy dreamt of being a captain of a great wooden ship sailing the seas. I can understand that now. "Midshipman Hornblower" is entertaining and engrossing. It is actually ten short(ish) stories tracking the adventures of young Hornblower from his first day on a ship (a sort of floating Rugby School with its own equivalent of Flashman)...more
Jennifer
The next Hornblower book in written order skips back to the very beginning of Horatio's career, where his self-doubt, sensitivity, and perverse desire to find the bad in good situations and the good in bad situations seem more understandable in a nineteen-year-old than a sixty-year-old. Don't get me wrong, I think it's very realistic that he would have much the same personality all his life, but the reader (well, this reader) can't help but want to slap him a bit when he's still doing it well af...more
Ryan
This is classic adventure on the high seas, and C.S. Forester’s crisp, spray-tossed depiction of the Napoleonic-era British navy seems hard to beat as a standard-setter. Our hero here is the gawky, 17-year-old midshipman Horatio Hornblower, whose intelligence, persistence, and daring, if not social confidence, mark him for future greatness (of course, there are many more novels in the series). Being young, he makes mistakes, but he learns valor, honor, compassion, and a few lessons about human n...more
Catie
So, this is actually a prequel, written many years after Horatio Hornblower first took the stage and even after he had become one of England’s most famous heroes. But I’ve decided to read these in chronological order and I’m quite glad that I did.

In this book, Horatio is a very young midshipman (although not as young as the wealthy and titled lads who take up that position). He’s been given his first commission aboard the Justinian, where he immediately becomes known as the midshipman who got s...more
Adrienne Kiser
Swashbuckling+1! My only complaint was that I sometimes got a little confused by the more nautical sentences, for example: "The man in the bows of the jolly boat faced forward and took the grapnel line and began to haul in on it, but the speed of the boat through the water made any progress difficult, and after a yard or so had been gained the difficulty became insurmountable, for the grapnel was caught in the poop rail ten or eleven feet above water, and the angle of pull became progressively s...more
Pamela Walker
I find it rather amusing that I have thoroughly enjoyed the Hornblower series. I don't like war stories and I don't usually like books where there are predominantly male characters. However, something about these books were so interesting that I found myself captivated. The author's dribbling of unique facts here and there was fascinating, not just about life aboard a ship, but about the times. Hornblower's clever ways of getting out of jams are less physical, but more intellectual (and daring)...more
Ashland Mystery Oregon
Mr. Midshipman Hornblower is the chronological first in the Horatio Hornblower series, in which Horatio earns his sea legs. The book is a series of extreme adventures in which Horatio Hornblower is indominable and courageous.
His first ship founders, weighed down by wet rice that split the seams. His second is captured by the French. In another episode, he loses his men. Adversity hounds Horatio Hornblower, but nevertheless, he triumphs with each disaster adding to Horatio's confidence and exper...more
Seymour Hamilton
This first book of the Hornblower saga, though not the first written, Mr Midshipman is the best place to start. CS Forester set the standard for nautical and historical accuracy in writing about the great age of sail, and though often imitated, he is the literary ancestor of the many contemporary writers about the Napoleonic wars. As you read, you discover how people lived aboard a warship of the period, how they coped with the day-to-day pressures of living at sea for weeks and months, as well...more
Rein
Mar 28, 2011 Rein rated it 5 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition Recommends it for: people who read adventures; strong characters w/ depth
Recommended to Rein by: The History Book Club
I judge the book by its size! And i'm proven wrong by this book. Even though this story is short, it's such an entertaining book about bravery, courage and adventures but at the same time, an inspiring to read because of the hardships, failures and Hornblower's sweet success as a midshipman.

Hornblower's story reminds me of what courage really is about and the importance of critical thinking to make wise decisions in life. I admire how Hornblower cling to his own convictions of going through the...more
Eliza
Giving this 5 stars is maybe a bit of a stretch, but I really enjoyed this book. It is written in more of a short-story style than a typical novel. I think you could appreciate each chapter on its own and yet there is a continuous thread throughout the book. If you enjoy old naval stories, you'll love this. If you enjoy novels about this time period (same as Jane Austen's) or about the Napoleonic Wars, you'll enjoy it too. A word of warning, though, I didn't find the series satisfying. Forester...more
Tobias Grey
The is the first in the series of Hownblower books by Forester, and is more of a collection of short stories than a full novel.
The eponymous main character has been the result of widespread adulation and adoration in the UK since the books were written. As the series got larger, Hornblower gathered more and more admirers, among them none other than Winston Churchill.
The main character began his journey as a lowly midshipman, with an embarrasing tendency for seasickness.
The narratives can be blat...more
Jeffrey Lawson
Jul 12, 2010 Jeffrey Lawson rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Nautical Literature
Okay, the Hornblower novels probably do not rate five stars for literary merit, but I love them! Hornblower is a beautifully developed character, the nautical detail fascinates me, the historical perspective is fairly accurate, and the action is suspenseful.

I know they have their problems (e.g. secondary characters are barely developed at all) but I love these books.

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower is the first book chronologically. It is primarily a collection of adventures that happen to Hornblower d...more
Darby Sproul
I have long been a fan of the mini-series that is based on these books. The book was nearly identical to the series, which left out a great deal of suspense for me, but I still loved it. It had more impressive vocabulary than the series, as well as some humorous bits that were left out. "I consider that an offensive remark, sir!" "I congratulate you on your perspicacity, sir!" Many tales of the sea are far over my head in their nautical jargon, but this one had the perfect balance, it stretched...more
russell barnes
Inspired by Murph, I tracked down an old copy in a second hand bookshop and relieved my callow youth whilst ill in bed.

As Paul notes, I'd forgotten how technical much of the language is. Lord knows what I made of it when I read it a million times as young shaver, but the benefit of years of experience hasn't made it any clearer, although I do know which sides are Port and Starboard...

The story-telling is taut and set at a 1000 miles an hour, which is to be expected in what is essentially a colle...more
Parker
Forester's opening tale of the fallible yet heroic Hornblower is so fun, funny and tragic, a reader shouldn't put it down for fear of losing it overboard. The young, awkward Midshipman is always at the right place at the wrong time and survives by relying on his training (and commonsense)to emerge unscathed.

As fun as the stories are, the talent is in the writing. A reader can see this is Forester's passion, the telling of Hornblower, and he does so masterfully. Crisp writing and nautical accurac...more
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Anyone else LIKE the A&E series - despite the weirdly rearranged plots? 5 13 May 23, 2013 11:04pm  
Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (Paperback)
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Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (Paperback)
MR Midshipman Hornblower (Hornblower Saga: Chronological Order, #1)

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Cecil Scott Forester was the pen name of Cecil Louis Troughton Smith, an English novelist who rose to fame with tales of adventure and military crusades. His most notable works were the 11-book Horatio Hornblower series, about naval warfare during the Napoleonic era, and The African Queen (1935; filmed in 1951 by John Huston). His novels A Ship of the Line and Flying Colours were jointly awarded t...more
More about C.S. Forester...
Lieutenant Hornblower Beat to Quarters Hornblower: Hornblower and the Hotspur Hornblower and the Atropos Ship of the Line

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“Clairvoyant, Hornblower could foresee that in a year's time, the world would hardy remember the incident. In twenty years, it would be entirely forgotten. Yet those headless corpses up there in Muzillac; those shattered redcoats; those Frenchmen caught in the four-pounder's blast of canister -- they were as dead as if it had been a day in which history had been changed.” 8 people liked it
“I thank God daily for the good fortune of my birth, for I am certain I would have made a miserable peasant.” 6 people liked it
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