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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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Jun 22, 2012 Werner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, classics, books-i-own

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 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 combat), characterization, and easily-readable Realist style. The movies based on parts of this novel don't always follow the book very closely; the Hornblower revealed here is a more complex character than the film version, younger (a teen at the beginning) and more callow, and definitely fallible. I could actually identify with him to a high degree --even though I'd never be able to do some of the things he did-- because he's portrayed as awkward and shy, and as pushing himself to the limit to do things that tax and scare him mainly because he fears other people's ridicule if he doesn't; and because he can make the same kind of absent-minded mistakes (like forgetting to cock his pistol when he's going into combat) that I could imagine myself making. One critic I've read felt that Forester is a less deep writer than his fellow maritime novelist, Melville, because he doesn't go in for symbolism and allegory. Nonetheless, his writing isn't shallow; he confronts his hero with several demands for moral decision-making. (And on these occasions, Hornblower comes through, earning the reader's respect and setting a good example.) The writing here is vivid; you get a really powerful picture of the hard and dangerous character of naval life in that day as you experience, along with the hero, the palms of his hands being flayed bloody by having to slide down a rough rope from a falling mast, or the winter cold and wet of the waves constantly breaking over him in an open boat.

Although this book is usually considered a novel, the structure is episodic enough that it could have been billed as a collection of short stories; though the chapters are placed in chronological order, they're each perfectly self-contained and could stand as distinct units. Since this wasn't the first Hornblower book to be written, it doesn't furnish any detailed information about his life before he went to sea, or why he decided on such a career; I'm assuming this would have appeared in the first book, but the lack of it here made for a gap in the character development. Also, if Forester ever explained the basic nautical terms of a sail-driven ship and its rigging and operations, he doesn't do it here; technical terms are used abundantly and you glean (or sometimes, don't glean) an approximation of the meaning from the context, unless you've picked up a definition elsewhere. (A sailing ship entry in a good visual dictionary would be a useful accompaniment to this read!) But these are minor caveats; I'm looking forward to eventually reading the next two books (in terms of Hornblower's life chronology) of the series, at least.(less)

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Dec 23, 2011 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

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

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Sep 13, 2012 Jason Koivu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

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

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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 "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 that's quick to appraise risks and make split-second decisions. But without friends, without family, and faced with cruel discipline, bullying, and the brutality of war, the inexperienced Hornblower grows callous, shoring up his many insecurities through violence, rigid obedience to authority, and a bravado that borders on suicidal.

For many chapters, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower is a fairly dark read. Written in the gloomy days just after WWII, when Britons watched the Empire being dismantled, Forester's tale mirrors the angst and anger of the period; at the same time, though, it looks back longingly on the Empire in its first "finest hour," when – like the heroic airmen who saved England during the Blitz – courageous British seamen stood alone against a Europe dominated by an aggressive dictator.

I was equally charmed and repelled by Forester's vulnerable, volatile midshipman; but what remained constant were my curiosity to see what became of him and the pleasure I found reading about his adventures. Fortunately for us, Forester tells a good yarn from stem to stern. While the structure of each episodic chapter is formulaic and the focus rarely strays from Hornblower, Forester's clever imagination and extensive research create a believable illusion of life in the British navy during the Napoleonic wars. There's plenty of suspense and adventure; and the grim, understated humor that liberally seasons the yarns keep the reader's spirits up and the pages turning. I had no problem finishing the book, and at the conclusion, I was happy to see the more humane, more confident lieutenant Hornblower set to embark on an illustrious maritime career. I'm looking forward to setting sail with him again soon.
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Jun 05, 2007 Siria rated it 2 of 5 stars

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

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

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May 10, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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Apr 06, 2011 Brett rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-library

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

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Mar 05, 2013 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook, britain, europe, france, history, military, re-read, hornblower, spain

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

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Feb 18, 2013 Grace Best-Page rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: general-fiction

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

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Dec 05, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 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 (although admittedly, Ioan Gruffudd as Hornblower cuts a handsome figure in his Royal Navy uniform). I can't recommend this series enough and, as Hemingway said, anyone who is literate will enjoy these books.

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower contains a series of interconnected novellas. In the first, we are introduced to Hornblower as a 19-year-old midshipman - rather a late start for a naval career, as most boys would have gone to sea at 14 or even 12 years old in the 18th century. Hornblower is a gangly, awkward, unseaman-like young man, clumsy on deck, perennially seasick even as the ship is anchored in harbor, unpopular with the other midshipmen, and bullied by one in particular, the dreadful Simpson, an aged midshipman who cannot pass his lieutenant's exam and is bitter because he will never be promoted without it. The HMS Justinian is not a happy ship. Simpson is a wicked bully, the captain is too ill to maintain order, and Hornblower is so miserable he suicidally challenges Simpson to a duel, knowing he is an excellent shot. As the challenger, Hornblower has the choice of weapons, and he chooses a pair of pistols, only one of which is loaded, thus the title "The Even Chance." Hornblower survives and the captain mercifully transfers him to another ship, the famous Indefatigable commanded by Captain Sir Edward Pellew. (Forester never wrote about real battles, not wanting to second-guess history, but Pellew and the Indy are some of the handful of historical people who populate his novels).

Hornblower and the Cargo of Rice is one of the most exciting, nail-biting naval adventures ever written. Hornblower is made prize-master of a captured French cargo ship. Alas he is forced to abandon his first command and the ship sinks. Later he becomes a prisoner-of-war when the lifeboat is picked up by a French vessel, but in an exciting battle, with substantial assistance for the imprisoned Hornblower, it is captured by the Indefatigable. Hornblower starts to come into his own as a capable officer and leader of men. He participates in various missions and cutting-out parties, proving himself to be a courageous officer and gaining promotion to Acting Lieutenant. He flounders while taking the lieutenant's exam, but the exam is interrupted by the appearance of enemy fire ships in the harbor, and once again Hornblower acts with courage and decisiveness to avert disaster. In the last novella, Hornblower ends up a Spanish prisoner-of-war, the first of several imprisonments. He becomes fluent in Spanish, volunteers to rescue men shipwrecked on dangerous rocks, and during the rescue, is picked up by the Indefatigable, but because he has given his parole - his word as an officer and a gentleman that he will not try to escape - he must return to the Spanish prison. Eventually his bravery is recognized and he does eventually gain his freedom. (less)

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Jun 22, 2012 Shane rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 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 trajectory of the young midshipman from his first arrival aboard ship (he actually gets seasick in the shore boat rowing him over) until he earns a lieutenant’s commission for his achievements. And those achievements are many: duelling colleagues who insult him, commandeering enemy ships and losing them, steering enemy fire ships away from the fleet, helping an émigré imperialist French battalion’s abortive attempt at regaining their country from the revolutionaries, being quarantined at sea to save his fleet from the plague, attacking Spanish galleons, and finally enduring captivity in Spain until his liberation.

Hornblower, for all his bravado, is a fallible young man, unworldly, yet singular in his pursuit of duty to his country in the most honourable way. He wins as much as he loses. His self-doubt and “feel the fear and do it anyway” approach make him a very sympathetic and endearing character. He tends to grow on you.

Forester writes in ‘naval speak’ and this book is a good primer on all the moving parts of a sailing ship of yore, of its typical experiences at sea and of the techniques of sailing, especially in times of duress. The narrative is stilted but helps evoke the period and its rigid rules of conduct. The short story format however glosses over the inner motivations of the characters in favour of recording incidents and bringing them to resolution. Apart from our hero, the supporting cast does not stand out, other than the Duchess of Wharfedale in the last story.

The Hornblower series has spawned a whole industry of followers, but reading this first book, I understand why it holds its own. It romanticises this colonial period with touches of ironic humour and serves us up an honourable hero while others have riffed off this standard to produce more jagged versions of the original.
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Nov 21, 2011 K. rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: sea-story lovers, adventure lovers

Shelves: blood-and-morality-tales, boy-s-bookshelf, kids-young-adult

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

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Oct 20, 2011 Basicallyrun rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: age-of-sail

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

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Oct 17, 2011 Will Todd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hornblower

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

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May 28, 2011 Vasha7 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

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Mar 05, 2012 Mieczyslaw Kasprzyk rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, napoleonic-era

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

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Dec 19, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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Jun 01, 2013 Ryan rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 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 nature. Through his eyes, we see how 19th century military life works (or doesn’t) in the empire that ruled the waves; the varied assignments, routines, and hardships of the British navy; and a little about the rest of the world at that time.

This particular book, my introduction to the series, isn’t really a novel, but is divided into a series of separate episodes. In each mini-adventure, Mr. Hornblower encounters some aspect of naval duty, ranging from capturing enemy vessels, to going ashore and supporting land forces, to warding off the deadly attacks of fire ships. He faces some challenge, rises to to the occasion, and manages to save the day, if not always perfectly. The opening chapter, in which he contrives a daring, ingenious solution to a shipboard bully, is riveting. By the midpoint of the book, though, the formula becomes a little repetitive, and few of the other characters persist beyond an episode or undergo much development. Perhaps there’s more complexity to other books in the series.

Still, there’s enough variety to the scenarios themselves, and I enjoyed myself. The history feels well-researched and authentic, albeit in a PG-rated way, and the writing is brisk, full of sensory details, and a little humorous. Christian Rodska’s dramatic audiobook narration more than does it justice. I would also add that, as a science fiction fan, I can see the influence Forester had on that genre. A bold captain? A complex ship and a multi-talented crew? A few salty characters? An enemy empire to keep an eye on? Hello, Star Trek.(less)

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Oct 31, 2011 Catie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: classics, read-in-2011, high-seas-adventures

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 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 seasick while still anchored at port. He’s introverted, awkward, gangly, and a bit of a math nerd. However, what makes Horatio’s fumbles so incredibly enjoyable is the tangible affection that C.S. Forester so obviously feels for him. You can really feel Forester’s warmth and humor as Horatio contemplates suicide with all the drama of a seventeen year old, or disguises his skinny calves with a bit of wood and some plaster, or gets flustered by a questionable Duchess.

And then there are the little glimpses of Hornblower, the leader: the man who should not be trifled with. These are even more enjoyable. Underneath all that skinny awkwardness lies a daring, brave, and rigidly honorable man.

I’ve listened to a few author-narrated audiobooks recently, and while they weren’t terrible (and were also undoubtedly more authentic in terms of the author’s “vision”), this audiobook really reminded me of how much I love a skilled, professional narrator. The narrator for this audiobook is amazing with voices, accents, and inflections. I highly recommend this on audio.

Perfect Musical Pairing

Bob Dylan – When the Ship Comes In

Yes, I know that this is a metaphorical “ship coming in.” But still. I think that this song is a bit about revenge, but also a bit about the inevitability of social growth and change.

I found myself very amused by Hornblower’s unquestioning participation in government sanctioned kidnapping (“press gangs”) or piracy (“privateering”), and the casual racism that he applies to both the French and Spanish sailors, even as he looks on the practice of using galley slaves with disgust. But near the end of the book, he seems to become more open-minded and level-headed. So there! Even in a metaphorical sense, this song applies.

And in a literal sense, obviously. Yay for high-seas adventures!
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May 26, 2012 Adrienne Kiser rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

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Aug 21, 2011 Pamela Walker rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

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Aug 19, 2012 Ashland Mystery Oregon rated it 3 of 5 stars

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

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Jul 13, 2012 Seymour Hamilton added it

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

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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

Shelves: 2011-wish-list, favorites, april-2011-books, must-re-read-books

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

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Mar 08, 2010 Eliza rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

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Apr 04, 2011 Tobias Grey rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 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 blatantly simple, yet at the same time, miraculously exciting: skirmishes with French vessels off the coast of England, battles in the rough seas north of Spain, and tense moments during ceasefire when Hornblower's vessel passed, broadside-to-broadside, with a French ship - neither one being able to fire, yet not knowing what the other would do. MY favourite, though, by far is 'The Frog and the Lobster', where British troops landed on the north of France with a compliment of ragtag French royalists, to incite a 'Bay of Pigs'-like counter-revolution to Robspierre and Napoleon's revolution against the aristocracy. The attempt failed, but the story was amazing.
Not only does Forester create amazing and thrilling stories, but he also creates the adolescent Hornblower with depth and personality. Being in his late teens, Hownblower is riddled with insecutities and low self-esteem. Far from being annoying and self-pitying, be uses these traits as a springboard and they magnify his will to succeed and prove himself to his superiors.
It was Churchill who said that 'courage is not the absence of fear, but what we do in spite of fear'. In most engagements, Hornblower experiences a near-paralysing fear, but never remits in showing initiative and quick tactical thinking, as well as prowess in combat and, in spite of himself, bravery.
Hornblowers intentions are always the best. He has a strict sense of dignity and honour which he follows nearly obsessively in order to convince others, as well as himself, that he is a worthy person. And for some reason I appreciate this, and associate with the character even more. It's one thing to be a one-dimensional action hero with cheesy taglines, but entirely another to be humble. It is frustrating, though, when Hownblower constantly refuses to aknowledge his positive traits, but I guess that's just adolescence in a nutshell - it just serves to develop the character - and at the end of most short stories, Hornblower usually will dare to allow himself to be proud, even smug.
All in all, the amazing story and the immaculate character development combine in order to make one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I've had.
For those who enjoy action novels, wonderful characters and wonderfully painted scenes of life in England and on the Royal Navy's ships during the 1800s then this is one of the best reads you will have as well.(less)

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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

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Jan 04, 2012 Darby Sproul rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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Jan 07, 2011 russell barnes rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-youth

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

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Aug 18, 2009 Parker rated it 5 of 5 stars

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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About C.S. Forester

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

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Quotes from Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

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

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