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Hornblower Saga: Chronological Order #10
Lord Hornblower
The Admiral's face was grim as he gave Commodore Hornblower his orders. The situation was critical: mutiny was an infection that could spread through the fleet like the plague and, furthermore, the crew were threatening to go over to the French.
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First published January 1, 1946
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About the author
C.S. Forester
237 books991 followersCecil 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 the 1938 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
August 25, 2015
The war in Europe drawing to a close. After his defeat in the endless Russian plain, Napoleon's empire is crumbling. All of Europe is united against him and the end cannot be that far away. It is against this backdrop that Hornblower, cooling his heels in England, is called back to sea.
A ship outside the port city of Le Havre has mutinied against its cruel captain. Hornblower is sent to sort out the mess. Complicating matters, the French in Le Havre have offered the mutineers safe harbor. If Hornblower missteps, the mutineers will turncoat and go over to the French, giving Napoleon a great morale boosting victory against the hated English navy.
Fortunately, in a few sharp moves, Hornblower resolves the crisis and retakes the ship. Further, with the French uncertain as to the status of the former mutineers, he sails into the harbor and more or less occupies the city. The French, more worried about the main Russian, Prussian and English armies can do little more than send a minor force to retake the city. Of course, Hornblower defeats them.
It is here that, despite being onshore, Hornblower and the story starts to feel adrift. Hornblower serves as military governor of Le Havre. The Bourbons are restored. His wife joins him. They go to Paris where he bumps into his old friend and savior (from a few books back) the Count, and, of course, his daughter-in-law, Marie. Barbara goes to Vienna to serve as hostess for her brother (the Duke of Wellington) to negotiate a peace. Rather than be irrelevant, Hornblower decides to visit the Count. The relationship with Marie is rekindled.
And then Napoleon returns to France from Elba. The army abandons the Bourbons and rallies to the once-and-future Emperor. Hornblower is asked by the royal family to organize a resistance, and for the last third of the book he, the Count, Marie, Brown and a band of rag-tag royalists wage a guerrilla war against the French army, tying down troops that could otherwise support Napoleon for the climactic campaign.
In the end, Marie is killed, the Count and Hornblower are captured. They are tried, found guilty and sentenced to death. Predictably, the morning of the execution, word arrives of Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. The Bourbon's are once again rulers of France and the captives are freed.
Three stars out of five. I found the story to be much less focused than the others. The book to me felt as if the author was trying to force Hornblower into historical events rather than having those events fall around Hornblower. It felt like two short stories rather than one larger one. And, on a personal level, I simply prefer the swirl and stench of powder and gun-smoke, the rolling of the waves and the action of ship to ship broadsides and boardings.
A ship outside the port city of Le Havre has mutinied against its cruel captain. Hornblower is sent to sort out the mess. Complicating matters, the French in Le Havre have offered the mutineers safe harbor. If Hornblower missteps, the mutineers will turncoat and go over to the French, giving Napoleon a great morale boosting victory against the hated English navy.
Fortunately, in a few sharp moves, Hornblower resolves the crisis and retakes the ship. Further, with the French uncertain as to the status of the former mutineers, he sails into the harbor and more or less occupies the city. The French, more worried about the main Russian, Prussian and English armies can do little more than send a minor force to retake the city. Of course, Hornblower defeats them.
It is here that, despite being onshore, Hornblower and the story starts to feel adrift. Hornblower serves as military governor of Le Havre. The Bourbons are restored. His wife joins him. They go to Paris where he bumps into his old friend and savior (from a few books back) the Count, and, of course, his daughter-in-law, Marie. Barbara goes to Vienna to serve as hostess for her brother (the Duke of Wellington) to negotiate a peace. Rather than be irrelevant, Hornblower decides to visit the Count. The relationship with Marie is rekindled.
And then Napoleon returns to France from Elba. The army abandons the Bourbons and rallies to the once-and-future Emperor. Hornblower is asked by the royal family to organize a resistance, and for the last third of the book he, the Count, Marie, Brown and a band of rag-tag royalists wage a guerrilla war against the French army, tying down troops that could otherwise support Napoleon for the climactic campaign.
In the end, Marie is killed, the Count and Hornblower are captured. They are tried, found guilty and sentenced to death. Predictably, the morning of the execution, word arrives of Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. The Bourbon's are once again rulers of France and the captives are freed.
Three stars out of five. I found the story to be much less focused than the others. The book to me felt as if the author was trying to force Hornblower into historical events rather than having those events fall around Hornblower. It felt like two short stories rather than one larger one. And, on a personal level, I simply prefer the swirl and stench of powder and gun-smoke, the rolling of the waves and the action of ship to ship broadsides and boardings.
June 5, 2015
Another excellent addition to the series. Hornblower is definitely not a perfect hero for all his honesty & introspection. I like that, especially in a man who strives so hard for perfection & spares himself so little. He faces several difficult challenges in this & well deserves the accolades he receives. He also deserves a kick where the sun don't shine, but don't we all occasionally?
The characters continue to shine. Many old friends in this story & some do very well indeed. Others don't. I'm glad Forester doesn't try for a totally happy ending. He wrapped most up well enough, although he did leave one big question hanging. Still, I didn't feel like kicking him this time.
On to the final book, Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies! There's a short story after that & I'm done.
The characters continue to shine. Many old friends in this story & some do very well indeed. Others don't. I'm glad Forester doesn't try for a totally happy ending. He wrapped most up well enough, although he did leave one big question hanging. Still, I didn't feel like kicking him this time.
On to the final book, Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies! There's a short story after that & I'm done.
October 23, 2014
Sir Horatio is pulled from the invalid list and sent to recapture a British warship whose crew has mutinied. In the process of accomplishing this he manages to assist the French city of Le Havre in rebelling against Napoleon and is later elevated to the peerage, hence the title.
It's been a while since I last read a Hornblower novel, but I don't think this is one of the better books. There's a lot of good stuff here, particularly in the first half, but Hornblower's perpetual insecurity and deliberate coldness are more annoying than usual and are only slightly mitigated by the fact that his charade makes him lonely and miserable.
There was potential in the conflict when Lady Barbara invades her husband's world and it's too bad Forester gave it such shallow treatment. Hornblower's infidelity pissed me off (the one thing he refuses to feel guilt over!) as did the author's resolution of Hornblower's domestic dilemma.
Hornblower's secret sympathy for the mutineers was handled well. His private admission that the threat of a flogging would be enough to drive him to it himself was slightly shocking - I suspect this was his insecurity talking.
It's been a while since I last read a Hornblower novel, but I don't think this is one of the better books. There's a lot of good stuff here, particularly in the first half, but Hornblower's perpetual insecurity and deliberate coldness are more annoying than usual and are only slightly mitigated by the fact that his charade makes him lonely and miserable.
There was potential in the conflict when Lady Barbara invades her husband's world and it's too bad Forester gave it such shallow treatment. Hornblower's infidelity pissed me off (the one thing he refuses to feel guilt over!) as did the author's resolution of Hornblower's domestic dilemma.
Hornblower's secret sympathy for the mutineers was handled well. His private admission that the threat of a flogging would be enough to drive him to it himself was slightly shocking - I suspect this was his insecurity talking.
May 14, 2008
I can't believe that I'm saying this, but I hated this book. It started out rather cleverly when Horatio is sent to take care of some mutineers, it then turns into him taking a french town in a bloodless coup and thus destablilzing the area for Bonaparte. Bony is already dealing with the Russians to the north and east, the British to the south and west and he can hardly spare any help for the area that Horatio took. He does manage to scrounge up 2 24 pounders to lay siege to the town, but Horatio sends men up river to blow up both the cannons and the powder for said cannon. **SPOILER** the only problem is Bush dies. I wouldn't believe it, but reading later on leaves no doubt of this. After that the story just goes down hill. Horatio is the military governor of the area until the conclusion of the war and is joined by Barbara. I think Barbara is wonderful, but while they are at a party, they run into Marie. The woman that he cheated on his first wife with. I was willing to overlook that because he didn't love Mariah, but it still bothered me. After the war while Barbara is in Vienna with her brother, Horatio goes back to France and cheats on Barbara with Marie. OK This is Barbara were talking about. The woman that he spent 3 books mooning over! And he cheats on her?! I would write it off to differences in the times, but Horatio says himself that what he's doing is wrong and that he is being selfish! Not only that, but he goes out of his way to cheat! He wasn't in France, he was at home in England! She wasn't thrown in his way, he put himself in her way. I can't even finish this book because I'm so mad!
March 7, 2018
There were just so many missed opportunities with this book. First off, Hornblower is ordered to deal with a mutinous crew. After explaining how mutiny is like a plague upon an army and how the French would never aid a mutinous crew from even an opposing nation due to the disease like nature of mutiny, the French just conveniently decide to help the mutinous crew for no reason that is explained adequately.
After that, Hornblower outmaneuvers both the French and the mutinous crew in typical Hornblower fashion. This is probably the only part of real interest in the entire book.
He takes over a town and instead of having to deal with a prolonged siege, the war just happens to end at this point. There's a bit of a love triangle, kind of, not really. There is much discourse about the politics of the time which feels redundant at this point in the series.
The novel is fairly tedious through the middle and picks up at the end with Napoleon's return to power. Hornblower agrees to lead a guerilla force, because he is in France for Napoleon's return. Okay, bit of an excitement, could be fun. Except, there is absolutely no mentioning of any guerilla skirmishes, and the book just skips ahead to Hornblower's rebels disbanding.
I was just so bored throughout the entire novel; I skimmed large sections. I'm really hoping Hornblower's final novel is more interesting.
After that, Hornblower outmaneuvers both the French and the mutinous crew in typical Hornblower fashion. This is probably the only part of real interest in the entire book.
He takes over a town and instead of having to deal with a prolonged siege, the war just happens to end at this point. There's a bit of a love triangle, kind of, not really. There is much discourse about the politics of the time which feels redundant at this point in the series.
The novel is fairly tedious through the middle and picks up at the end with Napoleon's return to power. Hornblower agrees to lead a guerilla force, because he is in France for Napoleon's return. Okay, bit of an excitement, could be fun. Except, there is absolutely no mentioning of any guerilla skirmishes, and the book just skips ahead to Hornblower's rebels disbanding.
I was just so bored throughout the entire novel; I skimmed large sections. I'm really hoping Hornblower's final novel is more interesting.
October 22, 2015
Hornblower, now Lord Hornblower moves on to deal with some new and different problems. The book came close to getting a 3 from me as the affairs of Hornblower's heart got a bit annoying to me.
Still the events that take place during Bonaparte's last 100 days is interesting (though you have to take note that had Hornblower been able to be true to his wife the bad stuff he dealt with might not have happened).
Part of the story of Hornblower with some good story telling.
Still the events that take place during Bonaparte's last 100 days is interesting (though you have to take note that had Hornblower been able to be true to his wife the bad stuff he dealt with might not have happened).
Part of the story of Hornblower with some good story telling.
November 23, 2019
I don’t give low ratings very often, and I’m pained to give a Hornblower book a two star rating, but I had to do it. Unfortunately, I simply did not like Lord Hornblower. It would be impossible to discuss how I feel about the book without including spoilers so: warning, spoilers ahead.
Lord Hornblower takes place during the final phase of the Napoleonic Wars when there weren’t any large scale naval operations taking place. In order to give Hornblower some action, Forester gives him a rather difficult task. Hornblower is sent to the coast of Normandy to deal with a mutineering British ship-of-war. This section of the book was decent, though nothing special. I must admit that the conflict of interest between officer and men in a mutiny, though it makes for dramatic storytelling, is not a situation that I much enjoy reading about.
However, the story after the mutiny is much worse.
In summary, I found Hornblower’s contrary behavior annoying again and found many of his actions frustrating and implausible. Frankly, Brown was the more interesting character in this book. I wanted to like this book like any other Hornblower (particularly because I have a hardcover copy of the original edition which I bought from my library booksale), but unfortunately this was the worst book I’ve read this year. For those reading through the Hornblower series, I still think you should read this book, but I can only hope that you will enjoy it more than I did. If you do decide to avoid reading Lord Hornblower, don't worry because you're not missing much.
Lord Hornblower takes place during the final phase of the Napoleonic Wars when there weren’t any large scale naval operations taking place. In order to give Hornblower some action, Forester gives him a rather difficult task. Hornblower is sent to the coast of Normandy to deal with a mutineering British ship-of-war. This section of the book was decent, though nothing special. I must admit that the conflict of interest between officer and men in a mutiny, though it makes for dramatic storytelling, is not a situation that I much enjoy reading about.
However, the story after the mutiny is much worse.
In summary, I found Hornblower’s contrary behavior annoying again and found many of his actions frustrating and implausible. Frankly, Brown was the more interesting character in this book. I wanted to like this book like any other Hornblower (particularly because I have a hardcover copy of the original edition which I bought from my library booksale), but unfortunately this was the worst book I’ve read this year. For those reading through the Hornblower series, I still think you should read this book, but I can only hope that you will enjoy it more than I did. If you do decide to avoid reading Lord Hornblower, don't worry because you're not missing much.
May 1, 2023
This is the next to last volume of Forester's Hornblower series and it is probably one of the better episodes in this character's fictional life. This story takes place during Napoleon's final days as emperor and his exile to Elba and ends with Waterloo. The tale begins with Hornblower being tasked to the coast of France to deal with a mutiny of the crew of a British brig of war threatening to desert to France unless their demands are met. This portion of the story is the only occasion for Hornblower to demonstrate his nautical and combat abilities because the second part of the story is entirely different.
After dealing with the mutineers Hornblower is made aware of the tentative hold of Napoleon's forces on the nearby city of Le Harve and an apparent willingness of local officials to cooperate with an English invasion. Hornblower decides to take the initiative and lead such an invasion. The rest of the story deals with this invasion and its aftermath and then Napoleon's escape from Elba and the flight from Bonaparte's death decrees for Hornblower and his associates. While the first third of the book concerns the mutiny and bulk of the story takes places in France and has nothing to do with naval exploits and has more to do with political intrigue and a doomed extramarital affair which I found a surprising and unnecessary addition to the story. Actually, considering when this book was published and its potential audience I was surprised that a romance of this nature was included in this story as it does tarnish this fictional hero even if it does humanize him. Nevertheless, it was a good story and not the usual adventure at sea with all of its unknowable naval jargon. Enjoy.
After dealing with the mutineers Hornblower is made aware of the tentative hold of Napoleon's forces on the nearby city of Le Harve and an apparent willingness of local officials to cooperate with an English invasion. Hornblower decides to take the initiative and lead such an invasion. The rest of the story deals with this invasion and its aftermath and then Napoleon's escape from Elba and the flight from Bonaparte's death decrees for Hornblower and his associates. While the first third of the book concerns the mutiny and bulk of the story takes places in France and has nothing to do with naval exploits and has more to do with political intrigue and a doomed extramarital affair which I found a surprising and unnecessary addition to the story. Actually, considering when this book was published and its potential audience I was surprised that a romance of this nature was included in this story as it does tarnish this fictional hero even if it does humanize him. Nevertheless, it was a good story and not the usual adventure at sea with all of its unknowable naval jargon. Enjoy.
September 1, 2022
I have recently re-read most of this series for the fifth or sixth time with immense pleasure. I’ve read Lord Hornblower fewer times, and this re-read has reminded me why.
It’s still good, as all Foresters books are, but it’s certainly not among my favourite Hornblowers. It begins very well with Commodore Hornblower sent on a very difficult mission to suppress mutiny on a ship threatening to defect to France. There is some thrilling action and the usual ingenuity as he tackles the problem. This then leads to a bold plan to foment insurrection in the dying days of Bonaparte’s reign as Emperor and much of the book then takes place on land as Hornblower acts as official and diplomat in this delicate situation. This, and subsequent events are well enough done, but for me don’t have the dash and thrill of many of the earlier books, while the dealing with Hornblower’s psyche as he wrestles with affaires de coeur is rather more drawn out and clumsy than before.
I still enjoyed the book, but nothing like as much as its predecessors. I have rounded down from 3.5 stars which may be harsh, but reflects the drop in my enjoyment here.
It’s still good, as all Foresters books are, but it’s certainly not among my favourite Hornblowers. It begins very well with Commodore Hornblower sent on a very difficult mission to suppress mutiny on a ship threatening to defect to France. There is some thrilling action and the usual ingenuity as he tackles the problem. This then leads to a bold plan to foment insurrection in the dying days of Bonaparte’s reign as Emperor and much of the book then takes place on land as Hornblower acts as official and diplomat in this delicate situation. This, and subsequent events are well enough done, but for me don’t have the dash and thrill of many of the earlier books, while the dealing with Hornblower’s psyche as he wrestles with affaires de coeur is rather more drawn out and clumsy than before.
I still enjoyed the book, but nothing like as much as its predecessors. I have rounded down from 3.5 stars which may be harsh, but reflects the drop in my enjoyment here.
October 17, 2011
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 that my own timeline regarding the two readings corresponds almost exactly to the age progression experienced by the main character in the course of these 11 novels.
It's a 30-year journey unlike any other I have ever taken in books - full and deep and satisfying.
This is the epic saga of fictional British naval hero HORATIO HORNBLOWER, who goes from a 17-year-old midshipman to a 46-year-old admiral during the "golden age of sail" which encompasses the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century.
I'll list the 11 books in chronological order (not the order they were written), which is the best way, I believe, to read them:
- MR. MIDSHIPMAN HORNBLOWER
- LIEUTENANT HORNBLOWER
- HORNBLOWER AND THE HOTSPUR
- HORNBLOWER DURING THE CRISIS
- HORNBLOWER AND THE ATROPOS
- BEAT TO QUARTERS
- SHIP OF THE LINE
- FLYING COLOURS
- COMMODORE HOWNBLOWER
- LORD HORNBLOWER
- ADMIRAL HORNBLOWER IN THE WEST INDIES
I've read other sea-faring novels, but to me, Forester earns the crown.
Why?
Many reasons, but I'll list just three:
1. All the rousing action you could ask for in a well-paced adventure series...
2. ...coupled with a complex main character. This is the true secret of the Hornblower books - that Hornblower himself is not some one-dimensional, infallible, faultless hero. On the contrary, he is filled with self-doubt and doesn't always choose the best course, especially in personal matters. But by building the main character this way, Forester allows you to recognize, empathize, and eventually care deeply about him - rooting for his success rather than merely expecting it. It's this complex characterization that complements and actually allows for the heroics of the plot - because it all comes at a price.
[One price is so high that, as a teenager, I couldn't believe that Forester had actually done it. I can't go into detail because this is a spoiler-free review, but something happens that is so devastating that literally for entire books afterwards, I kept expecting Forester to make amends. But it doesn't happen. And finally, as an older adult - knowing it will happen, knowing there will be no reprieve - I realize Forester was saying, "This is the price of war."]
3. The Language of Sailing Ships: I'm not nautically-minded, and there is much use of nautical language in these books. But rather than being annoyed, I had a very different reaction. First, I learned a few things. But much more importantly, I also grew to appreciate the language itself, whether I understood its technical details or not. To me, it became like poetry. Or even music.
And I loved it.
All 11 books.
It's an investment, to be sure.
But, for those "able-bodied", a wonderfully entertaining journey awaits.
Should you set sail?
Aye-aye!
[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 that my own timeline regarding the two readings corresponds almost exactly to the age progression experienced by the main character in the course of these 11 novels.
It's a 30-year journey unlike any other I have ever taken in books - full and deep and satisfying.
This is the epic saga of fictional British naval hero HORATIO HORNBLOWER, who goes from a 17-year-old midshipman to a 46-year-old admiral during the "golden age of sail" which encompasses the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century.
I'll list the 11 books in chronological order (not the order they were written), which is the best way, I believe, to read them:
- MR. MIDSHIPMAN HORNBLOWER
- LIEUTENANT HORNBLOWER
- HORNBLOWER AND THE HOTSPUR
- HORNBLOWER DURING THE CRISIS
- HORNBLOWER AND THE ATROPOS
- BEAT TO QUARTERS
- SHIP OF THE LINE
- FLYING COLOURS
- COMMODORE HOWNBLOWER
- LORD HORNBLOWER
- ADMIRAL HORNBLOWER IN THE WEST INDIES
I've read other sea-faring novels, but to me, Forester earns the crown.
Why?
Many reasons, but I'll list just three:
1. All the rousing action you could ask for in a well-paced adventure series...
2. ...coupled with a complex main character. This is the true secret of the Hornblower books - that Hornblower himself is not some one-dimensional, infallible, faultless hero. On the contrary, he is filled with self-doubt and doesn't always choose the best course, especially in personal matters. But by building the main character this way, Forester allows you to recognize, empathize, and eventually care deeply about him - rooting for his success rather than merely expecting it. It's this complex characterization that complements and actually allows for the heroics of the plot - because it all comes at a price.
[One price is so high that, as a teenager, I couldn't believe that Forester had actually done it. I can't go into detail because this is a spoiler-free review, but something happens that is so devastating that literally for entire books afterwards, I kept expecting Forester to make amends. But it doesn't happen. And finally, as an older adult - knowing it will happen, knowing there will be no reprieve - I realize Forester was saying, "This is the price of war."]
3. The Language of Sailing Ships: I'm not nautically-minded, and there is much use of nautical language in these books. But rather than being annoyed, I had a very different reaction. First, I learned a few things. But much more importantly, I also grew to appreciate the language itself, whether I understood its technical details or not. To me, it became like poetry. Or even music.
And I loved it.
All 11 books.
It's an investment, to be sure.
But, for those "able-bodied", a wonderfully entertaining journey awaits.
Should you set sail?
Aye-aye!
December 6, 2017
If you are reading a Hornblower book, you want to read about his adventures on the high seas, right? It's like, if you are reading a Sherlock Holmes book, you want to see him solve murders and mysteries — not a hiking trip to Dover, for example. The issue I have with this book, the second-to-last in the Hornblower series, is the fact that it spends more time on land than at sea. Literally half the book is about Hornblower on land and having struggles with his life there, and the last third of the book, where he wages some kind of guerrilla warfare on French troops, does not help either.
It is a disappointment, considering that the book begins with such a great hook: Hornblower is tasked to find a mutinous British ship and bring it back, but he understands why the mutineers did what they did and did not want to condemn the men to death. It is the inner struggle that really got my hopes up for the first half of the book.
Then, of course, the conflict is resolved in a few short pages, and the rest of the book sinks like a damaged boat in a storm. Even Bush's death happens off page, as if Forester got lazy to describe what happens.
A reviewer brought this up also, about Marie as Hornblower's love interest. I get why Hornblower cheated on Maria to be with Marie at first, since there was no real love loss there, but cheating on Barbara doesn't make a lick of sense to me. Hornblower's sudden turn of character is and has been a little off putting too, especially since he gained more power. In a weird way, I much prefer it when he was still struggling up the ranks, trying to make his mark and becoming a better seaman. Now that he has all the power in the world, with only his inner demons to contend with, the book series is poorer for it.
Please return to the high seas, Lord Hornblower, for the last book in the series. I am almost at the end of the journey. Let's take it home.
It is a disappointment, considering that the book begins with such a great hook: Hornblower is tasked to find a mutinous British ship and bring it back, but he understands why the mutineers did what they did and did not want to condemn the men to death. It is the inner struggle that really got my hopes up for the first half of the book.
Then, of course, the conflict is resolved in a few short pages, and the rest of the book sinks like a damaged boat in a storm. Even Bush's death happens off page, as if Forester got lazy to describe what happens.
A reviewer brought this up also, about Marie as Hornblower's love interest. I get why Hornblower cheated on Maria to be with Marie at first, since there was no real love loss there, but cheating on Barbara doesn't make a lick of sense to me. Hornblower's sudden turn of character is and has been a little off putting too, especially since he gained more power. In a weird way, I much prefer it when he was still struggling up the ranks, trying to make his mark and becoming a better seaman. Now that he has all the power in the world, with only his inner demons to contend with, the book series is poorer for it.
Please return to the high seas, Lord Hornblower, for the last book in the series. I am almost at the end of the journey. Let's take it home.
October 28, 2020
Picked up a used copy ages ago in the hopes that it might scratch my Aubrey/Maturin itch, but alas, aside from a bit of nautical jargon it had not a brush of the wit and personality of those great books. It did have some of the bizarre and nonsensical structure I expect in an O'Brian novel, though: he's undermining mutineers, then he's a governor, then he's vacationing with his mistress, then he's a guerrilla fighter, then it's over.
February 28, 2020
Another great entry in the Hornblower series. Hornblower is sent to put down a mutiny, and finds himself in bigger trouble than he ever expected.
August 15, 2018
A good tale of Hornblower, this one later in his career, when he is married to Barbara and Richard is about 3 or 4 I'd guess. I did feel that Forester tried entirely too hard to bring in Marie and force Horatio into a serious misstep, both personal and professional.
Hard core fans of Hornblower probably won't mind any of this however and it is a good book!
Find it! Read it!
Hard core fans of Hornblower probably won't mind any of this however and it is a good book!
Find it! Read it!
September 14, 2021
My, my
At Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender
Although Hornblower was nowhere near Waterloo at the time.
I think I've finally figured out one of the reasons this series grabs me so hard -- it's historical adventure, but it plays surprisingly like epic fantasy with a young boy of no particular account (Hornblower) accepting the Call to Adventure (well, joining the British navy as a midshipman) and battling and ultimately defeating the Dark Lord (Napoleon; although, as with The Lord of the Rings, the Dark Lord never actually appears on camera).
So yes, this is the book where (spoilers for a war that ended 210 years ago) Napoleon is ultimately defeated, and Hornblower (newly made a Lord) does play an indirect role in the events leading to his downfall after initially being dispatched to the French coast to deal with a British schooner (the Flame), whose crew has mutinied; and in the course of dealing with that sticky wicket, Hornblower finds himself bringing one of the stranded French nobles back onto the mainland and helping to sway Napoleon's empire on its very foundations. So not as much naval adventure as in some previous volumes, and more administrative headaches, and a memorable time spent operating as a partisan guerilla in the French countryside.
At Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender
Although Hornblower was nowhere near Waterloo at the time.
I think I've finally figured out one of the reasons this series grabs me so hard -- it's historical adventure, but it plays surprisingly like epic fantasy with a young boy of no particular account (Hornblower) accepting the Call to Adventure (well, joining the British navy as a midshipman) and battling and ultimately defeating the Dark Lord (Napoleon; although, as with The Lord of the Rings, the Dark Lord never actually appears on camera).
So yes, this is the book where (spoilers for a war that ended 210 years ago) Napoleon is ultimately defeated, and Hornblower (newly made a Lord) does play an indirect role in the events leading to his downfall after initially being dispatched to the French coast to deal with a British schooner (the Flame), whose crew has mutinied; and in the course of dealing with that sticky wicket, Hornblower finds himself bringing one of the stranded French nobles back onto the mainland and helping to sway Napoleon's empire on its very foundations. So not as much naval adventure as in some previous volumes, and more administrative headaches, and a memorable time spent operating as a partisan guerilla in the French countryside.
April 1, 2012
C.S Forester is an average writer when it comes to writing Hornblower's family life, romantic interest but thankfully he is great at writing a nautical story, making naval warfare look very interesting. Military history wise these books are very interesting.
This novel was too much about Hornblowers love life and not enough about the pressed hands in ships, the terrible lifestyle of decades of war working on ships,techniques of running a war ship.
This novel was too much about Hornblowers love life and not enough about the pressed hands in ships, the terrible lifestyle of decades of war working on ships,techniques of running a war ship.
July 24, 2017
I haven’t read a Hornblower for a year or so now. About 10 years ago, I regularly devoured one every 6 months to make them stretch, but then as a fickle child, I searched out other books. I have always admired authors like CS Forester & Arthur Ransome who managed to write their books out of sequence (Ransome also wrote the chapters out of sequence) but which a generation later, reading them in chronological order seems like the natural way to approach said series.
This book is a strange child however; written at a time when Forester was diagnosed with crippling arteriosclerosis that was believed to end his writing career, he would live for another 20 years and continue developing the Hornblower series. Therefore, it has a very definite feeling of finality about it. A number of threads affecting the regular characters are tied here, which means, the final published book (the next one) is going to be a rather strange one indeed with favourite characters missing.
Having said this, the plot is strong and centres around the last months of the Napoleonic Wars. I never knew a Bourbon king was crowned nor that Napoleon seized power again. I knew of the escape from Elba, but the time sequence was never firmly set in my head, nor its consequences, ie: reassumption of power. As per other books in the series, this one is made up of two episodes that flow one from the other. First is the audacious capture of Le Havre – it is the sort of daring do that peppers Hornblower’s career and then him as a fugitive during the brief Napoleon interlude.
What I love in these books are the characters. Our regulars are strong and identifiable, making the narrative hum along. What is always fun in the regular love interest and in this one we have two to keep us amused. As I pointed out above, ends are tied up very much as they were with the death of Maria a few novels back.
Did I enjoy reading this one? Oh, yes! And in many ways it feels very final; how he was able to complete another in the narrative and embark on a further incomplete manuscript shows the testament of a good writer who can capture his audience with his narrative, characterisation and language. I may read that final recognised one later this year.
This book is a strange child however; written at a time when Forester was diagnosed with crippling arteriosclerosis that was believed to end his writing career, he would live for another 20 years and continue developing the Hornblower series. Therefore, it has a very definite feeling of finality about it. A number of threads affecting the regular characters are tied here, which means, the final published book (the next one) is going to be a rather strange one indeed with favourite characters missing.
Having said this, the plot is strong and centres around the last months of the Napoleonic Wars. I never knew a Bourbon king was crowned nor that Napoleon seized power again. I knew of the escape from Elba, but the time sequence was never firmly set in my head, nor its consequences, ie: reassumption of power. As per other books in the series, this one is made up of two episodes that flow one from the other. First is the audacious capture of Le Havre – it is the sort of daring do that peppers Hornblower’s career and then him as a fugitive during the brief Napoleon interlude.
What I love in these books are the characters. Our regulars are strong and identifiable, making the narrative hum along. What is always fun in the regular love interest and in this one we have two to keep us amused. As I pointed out above, ends are tied up very much as they were with the death of Maria a few novels back.
Did I enjoy reading this one? Oh, yes! And in many ways it feels very final; how he was able to complete another in the narrative and embark on a further incomplete manuscript shows the testament of a good writer who can capture his audience with his narrative, characterisation and language. I may read that final recognised one later this year.
March 7, 2025
Goodness me! The best one yet!
Setting off to northern France to capture some mutinous sailors eventually leads to Hornblower becoming governor of Le Havre, and eventually the overthrowing of Bonaparte.
With some sad deaths of beloved friends along the way, he finds himself caught in France's interior when Napoleon makes his escapes from Elba and reasserts himself in the country.
Hornblower's valiant attempt to escape to the coast ends with him being hunted down like a dog, court martialled and sentenced to death...
Setting off to northern France to capture some mutinous sailors eventually leads to Hornblower becoming governor of Le Havre, and eventually the overthrowing of Bonaparte.
With some sad deaths of beloved friends along the way, he finds himself caught in France's interior when Napoleon makes his escapes from Elba and reasserts himself in the country.
Hornblower's valiant attempt to escape to the coast ends with him being hunted down like a dog, court martialled and sentenced to death...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2023
oh, this is a sad one, and Hornblower narrowly survives to live another day, yet wondering why he is a curse to all around him with the loss of those he loves most dearly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2008
I recorded all of C.S. Forester's Hornblower books in 50-55 minute episodes for Golden Hours, my local radio service for blind and reading-impaired listeners. Too bad I didn't make CD copies for myself, since the radio station broadcast the tape versions and then erased them too reuse.
I guess I'll have to re-record them for Golden Hours and this time keep a copy.
I have read and re-read the entire Hornblower series over a dozens times each, three times aloud: once from the upper bunk to my brother in the lower bunk, once to my wife while on the road, and once for "Golden Hours." Looks like I'll have to do it again someday.
I guess I'll have to re-record them for Golden Hours and this time keep a copy.
I have read and re-read the entire Hornblower series over a dozens times each, three times aloud: once from the upper bunk to my brother in the lower bunk, once to my wife while on the road, and once for "Golden Hours." Looks like I'll have to do it again someday.
April 19, 2013
My local library didn't have Commodore Hornblower, so I had to skip to Lord Hornblower (reading this particular series out of chronological order doesn't seem like such a sin, since that's how it was written). At any rate, I found this installment to be yet another solid entry into the series. I still find the older Hornblower much less likable than the younger Hornblower, and the second half of this book lacked much of the rousing sea action that Forester excels at. However, the first half is top notch, and I found it interesting to see Hornblower's struggles with his high station and his peacetime boredom.
January 24, 2020
C.S. Foresterin "Lordi Hornblower" (Otava, 1949) jatkaa Horatio Hornblowerista kertovien historiallisten meriromaanien sarjaa. Napoleonin armeija on tappion kynnyksellä, mutta eiköhän vaan Hornblower lähetetä kukistamaan omassa laivastossa noussutta kapinaa. Tilanne selviää melko nopeasti, mutta sen sankarillemme tarjoaa mahdollisuus vallata Le Havren satamakaupunki.
Vaikka kirjat ovat periaatteessa itsenäisiä romaaneja, on aikaisempien tapahtumien tuntemuksesta vähintäänkin hyötyä: jouduin itsekin palauttelemaan mieleen keitä olivat kreivi de Graçay ja hänen tyttärensä. No, olipa Komentajakapteeni Hornblowerin lukemisesta jo hieman aikaa.
Joku tässä vanhassa merisotakirjallisuudessa viehättää! Kenties kyse on Foresterin tenhoavasta kirjoitustyylistä, kenties Hornblowerin vähän ristiriitaisesta ja monenmoisia sisäisiä kamppailuja käyvästä hahmosta. Nykytermein päähenkilöä voisi kai nimittää huijarisyndroomasta kärsiväksi tapaukseksi, jolla on vaikeuksia tuntea itseään tyytyväiseksi edes suurimpien onnistumisten hetkillä.
Nelson oli ollut nero, säkenöivä äly, innoituksen lähde kaikille, jotka joutuivat kosketuksiin hänen kanssaan. Hän itse oli vain onnekas patustaja verrattuna Nelsoniin. Hänen menestyksensä juurena ja alkusyynä oli ainutlaatuinen onni, onni ja voimaperäinen ajattelu ja alaistensa uskollisuus. Hänen vertaamisensa Nelsoniin oli aivan hirvittävää, hirvittävää ja sopimatonta. (s.144-145)
Vaikka kirjat ovat periaatteessa itsenäisiä romaaneja, on aikaisempien tapahtumien tuntemuksesta vähintäänkin hyötyä: jouduin itsekin palauttelemaan mieleen keitä olivat kreivi de Graçay ja hänen tyttärensä. No, olipa Komentajakapteeni Hornblowerin lukemisesta jo hieman aikaa.
Joku tässä vanhassa merisotakirjallisuudessa viehättää! Kenties kyse on Foresterin tenhoavasta kirjoitustyylistä, kenties Hornblowerin vähän ristiriitaisesta ja monenmoisia sisäisiä kamppailuja käyvästä hahmosta. Nykytermein päähenkilöä voisi kai nimittää huijarisyndroomasta kärsiväksi tapaukseksi, jolla on vaikeuksia tuntea itseään tyytyväiseksi edes suurimpien onnistumisten hetkillä.
Nelson oli ollut nero, säkenöivä äly, innoituksen lähde kaikille, jotka joutuivat kosketuksiin hänen kanssaan. Hän itse oli vain onnekas patustaja verrattuna Nelsoniin. Hänen menestyksensä juurena ja alkusyynä oli ainutlaatuinen onni, onni ja voimaperäinen ajattelu ja alaistensa uskollisuus. Hänen vertaamisensa Nelsoniin oli aivan hirvittävää, hirvittävää ja sopimatonta. (s.144-145)
March 26, 2025
So first off, the Goodreads info on this book is wrong. There are not 240 pages, there are 291.
This is definitely a product of a very different era, when men were not just manly men but MANLY MEN. But even looking at it through that lens I can't wrap my head around how this Horatio Hornblower was held up as such a great heroic figure. Because the guy is a complete a-hole.
My intro to Hornblower was the A&E series of the late 90's and early 2000's, and how that character was written and portrayed was the books are often described... he's a flawed hero. I loved those movies and the character. The issue is that in the show he's likeable, in the books he most definitely is not.
Looking past the obvious behaviors of what would be expected from a gentleman and senior navy man of that era is one thing, and that I can do. What I can't accept is his constant terrible treatment of friends and most especially his wife, whom he has cheated on not just once but now twice in the series. Oh but woe is him, always being so harsh on himself about everything he does, and yet he never does anything to change.
I've read books with unlikeable characters, such as those in Abercrombie's First Law and Age of Madness trilogies, but even those a-hole characters have something you can sink your teeth into. The sort that you can love to hate. Hornblower is just... despicable.
--spoilers below---
The only reason I give this one two stars is because the first two thirds of the book are acceptable Napoleonic era fare. The final third is infuriating. He gets in a fight with his wife then heads off to shack up with his mistress for a few months, whom he repeatedly says will have heart broken by him and then manages to get her killed with his arrogance! Oh but boo hoo, he's so sad, beating himself up about it... all the while it's perfectly convenient that she's dead so he can go back to his wife without being forced to make a choice between the two.
The fact that he's saved from execution himself quite literally on the last page by Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo is just silly. I know Forester was a better writer than that and yet that's how he ended it.
This is definitely a product of a very different era, when men were not just manly men but MANLY MEN. But even looking at it through that lens I can't wrap my head around how this Horatio Hornblower was held up as such a great heroic figure. Because the guy is a complete a-hole.
My intro to Hornblower was the A&E series of the late 90's and early 2000's, and how that character was written and portrayed was the books are often described... he's a flawed hero. I loved those movies and the character. The issue is that in the show he's likeable, in the books he most definitely is not.
Looking past the obvious behaviors of what would be expected from a gentleman and senior navy man of that era is one thing, and that I can do. What I can't accept is his constant terrible treatment of friends and most especially his wife, whom he has cheated on not just once but now twice in the series. Oh but woe is him, always being so harsh on himself about everything he does, and yet he never does anything to change.
I've read books with unlikeable characters, such as those in Abercrombie's First Law and Age of Madness trilogies, but even those a-hole characters have something you can sink your teeth into. The sort that you can love to hate. Hornblower is just... despicable.
--spoilers below---
The only reason I give this one two stars is because the first two thirds of the book are acceptable Napoleonic era fare. The final third is infuriating. He gets in a fight with his wife then heads off to shack up with his mistress for a few months, whom he repeatedly says will have heart broken by him and then manages to get her killed with his arrogance! Oh but boo hoo, he's so sad, beating himself up about it... all the while it's perfectly convenient that she's dead so he can go back to his wife without being forced to make a choice between the two.
The fact that he's saved from execution himself quite literally on the last page by Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo is just silly. I know Forester was a better writer than that and yet that's how he ended it.
October 18, 2025
Another nice Hornblower book, a believable alternative history bolstered by excellent detail and a knowledge of the basics of life and military life and even of the geography of the early 19th century. But most of all, I am delighted by Hornblower’s personality — he is cool and inventive, but also burdened with a deep sensitivity, a sense of personal failures and wrong behavior, guilt, and a fear of fate. He is introspective and so introverted that, amidst his achievements, he enlarges small failures and takes the emotional burden of bad events for which he is not responsible. A truly unsettled man who is warm and duteous and loving, but who has a scrupulous conscience that torments him.
November 9, 2017
It's not because Winston Churchill loved Horatio, it's not because C.S. Forester is the next T.S. Eliot, and it's not because one learns an awful lot about nautical terminology, it's just because the Hornblower series are tremendously good adventure porn. This amazing lone ranger with his morals and sex appeal battling it out against Napoleon's military force on a boat. WE'RE ON A BOAT! It's just such nice reading fodder. It helps one can imagine a young Ioan Gruffud as the lead. I mean. Lusting after fictional characters is totally acceptable, right?
July 4, 2017
Tragedy and romance are in equal measures a Hornblower's best friend and associate Bush is killed in a raid and Hornblower visits and former flame at time between Napoleon's first defeat and his return to power after his time spent in exile on Elba. The ending is especially exciting as Hornblower leads a dwindling party escaping Napoleon's guard out to sentence him and hang him.
December 10, 2020
Hornblower just starting to enjoy life on land as a country squire with Barbara and child is summoned to end a mutiny near the French coast. In his typical style, he not only ends the mutiny but also seizes the French port. He has further adventures with the count and Marie who had saved him years ago.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2023
Hornblower is a Lord now, and thanks to some luck, he’d the occupying governor of Le Havre. Boney is on the run, and is defeated. But folks who pay attention know that Napoleon comes back with a vengeance.
Hornblower squeaks by again.
I’m mostly still disgusted at the way Hornblower treats women. But this is nothing new. Still, you can enjoy the story but not admire the protagonist.
Hornblower squeaks by again.
I’m mostly still disgusted at the way Hornblower treats women. But this is nothing new. Still, you can enjoy the story but not admire the protagonist.
May 20, 2021
The end of the Napoleonic Wars. Another classic adventure tale, only marginally spoiled by our hero spending the 2nd half of the novel on land, in a rather rushed story of guerilla rebellion. Still a wonderful bit of escapism, with touching moments.
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