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Hornblower Saga: Chronological Order #1-11 box
Horatio Hornblower 1 - 11
Horatio Hornblower is the fictional protagonist of a series of novels by C. S. Forester. The original Hornblower tales began with the appearance of a junior Royal Navy Captain on independent duty on a secret mission to Central America, though later stories would fill out his earlier years, starting with an unpromising beginning as a seasick midshipman. As the Napoleonic Wars progress, he gains promotion steadily, despite his initial poverty and lack of influential friends, as a result of his skill and daring. Eventually, after surviving many adventures in a wide variety of locales, he rises to the pinnacle of his profession, promoted to Rear Admiral of the Red Squadron, knighted as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and named the 1st Baron Hornblower.
3420 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
About the author
C.S. Forester
239 books1,020 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 84 reviews
June 3, 2007
I read the complete Horatio Hornblower series and enjoyed every single book. The series is a fictionalized history of the Royal Navy during the Napoleanic era. I greatly admired the character Horatio Hornblower, who kept his integrity intact while advancing while advancing from midshipman to Lord. (...Infinitely superior to the Captain Jack Aubry character found in Master and Commander.)
January 23, 2012
I am a nut for C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower series. I have read all them twice. First, there is the impeccable detail that Forester brings to life in the British Navy in the early 19th Century. His understanding of ships and sailors is outstanding such that it these books are a window into history.
Second, there are the story lines. No other historical fiction that I have read compares to the swashbuckling tales of Hornblower as he climbs the ranks of the British Navy. Again, the detail is stunning and Forester's narrative voice is pitch-perfect.
These stories are perfect for younger readers in that they can enjoy an amazing set of stories and actually get some historical education in the process. It would be hard to imagine a set of books that could teach the subject matter better.
The Horatio Hornblower series is timeless and the best of historical fiction.
Second, there are the story lines. No other historical fiction that I have read compares to the swashbuckling tales of Hornblower as he climbs the ranks of the British Navy. Again, the detail is stunning and Forester's narrative voice is pitch-perfect.
These stories are perfect for younger readers in that they can enjoy an amazing set of stories and actually get some historical education in the process. It would be hard to imagine a set of books that could teach the subject matter better.
The Horatio Hornblower series is timeless and the best of historical fiction.
February 13, 2010
These are some of the best books ever. One summer when I had time on my hands for reading I dug into these, and they are so good that I read them all twice. The pacing is wonderful, the detail about life on a British ship in the Age of Sail is engrossing, our hero Hornblower is a fascinating mass of brilliance and insecurity, and our author never loses sight of the fact that he is writing a story and wants us to keep turning the pages. I recommend that you read the books in the order they were written, the original trilogy starting with Beat to Quarters and then on through Forester's own evolution of the saga, rather than starting it "chronologically" with Hornblower's early career as a midshipman, which in my opinion will not interest you half as much as if you've already met the adult Hornblower.
August 8, 2008
I love everything about these books: adventure, calculated daring, tall ships, and duty without nationalism. Horatio Hornblower's heroism is underscored by his calculated approach to problems.
May 18, 2013
Historical fiction at its best! Tracing Hornblower's career from midshipman to Lord, the series pulls you into the life of a British sailor and shows you not just the hardships endured, but the horror of battle, and the glory to be one. Hornblower is a character of great depth, not a two-dimensional hero. He's tone deaf, and scared of heights, but overcomes his limitations for the good of his crew and his duty to King and country. A must read for anyone who is fascinated with the days of sailing ships and the Napoleonic wars.
February 22, 2011
Though these are older books (classics even!), they hold up well with plenty of action and intrigue to move things along. I read somewhere that Hornblower was an inspiration for the original Star Trek series, and I believe it. If you like intelligent but flawed protagonists, these are worth a try. And they are a must read for fans of naval literature.
March 6, 2018
Excellent adventure series. 11 books! Follows Horatio for 50+ years so the reader feel they get to know him, through good decisions and bad. He is a "real person" in the sense that he is not a flat character who - only does good, always wins, gets the girl, beats the bad guy -He has internal struggles, and personality quirks, but also bouts of genius, bravery, enviable qualities as well.
June 27, 2016
Every once in a while, a lucky reader encounters a series of books they just can’t read fast enough. These books aren’t read so much as inhaled.
That was the experience I had enjoying the HORNBLOWER series by C.S. Forester. Wow, what a ride. I plowed through the entire series of 11 books in no time.
I was drawn to the books after watching the fun miniseries starring Ioan Gruffudd, which were based on three of the novels. The miniseries took a great deal of license with the books, making them quite melodramatic. When I picked up the first book, I expected some Victorian moralizing about how men who adhere to hard work, honor and duty can’t lose, while everybody else is lazy and villainous. Boy, was I surprised.
The books are taut nautical thrillers–very realistic and entirely gripping. The series follows the career of Horatio Hornblower, a man who is so self-effacing and doubting that he continually strives toward perfection, knowing England and its vaunted Navy, in a death grapple with France during the Republican and subsequent Napoleonic Wars, will not abide failure. He starts his career as a midshipman and ends as Admiral of the Fleet. Each book follows him at a different stage of his career, from midshipman to lieutenant to captain to commodore to a lord to admiral. He is at virtually every major event of the wars, minus its big battles such as Trafalgar, as Forester preferred to put Hornblower into situations where he could act on his own.
Hornblower’s successes are the result of continually paying attention, experience, innovative thinking and just plain luck, but as his second wife puts it, a fortunate man makes his own luck by optimizing his chances. He isn’t a superhero. In fact, he continually doubts himself and, being a melancholy sort and a bit of a pessimist, isolates himself from the company of others. His only real friend, Bush, with whom he serves through most of the series, is kept at arm’s length while they’re on duty.
The nautical aspects of the series are thoroughly enjoyable. I appreciate being treated as an adult by a novel, without every single thing explained to me. The books are packed with nautical terms and maneuvering to the extent they at times read like procedurals for wood sailing ships of the time. In my view, this only makes the storytelling that much richer. When the action occurs, it is completely realistic and therefore twice as gripping. The naval battles are edge-of-the-seat reading.
Published between 1938 and 1962, the series did very well–so well, there was a story circulating during Forester’s day that whenever his publishing company was showing poor profits, they sent a representative down to beg him for another HORNBLOWER tale.
I’ve recommended HORNBLOWER to several friends, who all told me they already read it, so maybe (probably) I was the last to know. But if you haven’t read them yet, and you enjoy historical thrillers, definitely check them out. You’ll be glad you did.
That was the experience I had enjoying the HORNBLOWER series by C.S. Forester. Wow, what a ride. I plowed through the entire series of 11 books in no time.
I was drawn to the books after watching the fun miniseries starring Ioan Gruffudd, which were based on three of the novels. The miniseries took a great deal of license with the books, making them quite melodramatic. When I picked up the first book, I expected some Victorian moralizing about how men who adhere to hard work, honor and duty can’t lose, while everybody else is lazy and villainous. Boy, was I surprised.
The books are taut nautical thrillers–very realistic and entirely gripping. The series follows the career of Horatio Hornblower, a man who is so self-effacing and doubting that he continually strives toward perfection, knowing England and its vaunted Navy, in a death grapple with France during the Republican and subsequent Napoleonic Wars, will not abide failure. He starts his career as a midshipman and ends as Admiral of the Fleet. Each book follows him at a different stage of his career, from midshipman to lieutenant to captain to commodore to a lord to admiral. He is at virtually every major event of the wars, minus its big battles such as Trafalgar, as Forester preferred to put Hornblower into situations where he could act on his own.
Hornblower’s successes are the result of continually paying attention, experience, innovative thinking and just plain luck, but as his second wife puts it, a fortunate man makes his own luck by optimizing his chances. He isn’t a superhero. In fact, he continually doubts himself and, being a melancholy sort and a bit of a pessimist, isolates himself from the company of others. His only real friend, Bush, with whom he serves through most of the series, is kept at arm’s length while they’re on duty.
The nautical aspects of the series are thoroughly enjoyable. I appreciate being treated as an adult by a novel, without every single thing explained to me. The books are packed with nautical terms and maneuvering to the extent they at times read like procedurals for wood sailing ships of the time. In my view, this only makes the storytelling that much richer. When the action occurs, it is completely realistic and therefore twice as gripping. The naval battles are edge-of-the-seat reading.
Published between 1938 and 1962, the series did very well–so well, there was a story circulating during Forester’s day that whenever his publishing company was showing poor profits, they sent a representative down to beg him for another HORNBLOWER tale.
I’ve recommended HORNBLOWER to several friends, who all told me they already read it, so maybe (probably) I was the last to know. But if you haven’t read them yet, and you enjoy historical thrillers, definitely check them out. You’ll be glad you did.
August 1, 2008
Gosh I love a good yarn. As was the fashion half a century ago, the books start off slowly, but the character of Horatio Hornblower is such a good hearted, sympathetic, sometimes unlucky, well written hero, you should plow through the writing just to get to know him. Book #11 is the best because he finally gets his girl, though not without some trials thrown in the mix.
March 5, 2008
Love Horatio. I love action novels and these books are classic. I can't tell you how fun they are. My husband loves the story and we have watched the AE series religiously about these books.
September 4, 2016
Quite simply the best historical fiction I have ever read. Storys seem so real and no matter how many times I reread the series (5X so far) I always love it again!
January 11, 2021
I read the books in chronological order, and though overall I found them a very enjoyable read, there are things I liked and disliked.
I very much liked the way the flow made months of nautical trudgery into a very moving and compelling story line. Battles really carried the harried visceral feel that quicken your blood as you read.
On the down side, this also broke down between books, evidently finding out that they were written decades apart and way out of order, that explains that... But it ended up tossing me between a cliff hanger at the end of one book and completely lost in the middle of a new story (already in progress) in the following book... Making me feel I'd jumped an episode, and chunks missing were of disorienting consequence. I really had trouble getting a grasp of character ages along the way too. There was one flash forward early on in the books... number 3 I think, that detailed a time frame of Hornblower and his wife at an old-ish age that was both a spoiler in many regards and confusing in chronological order because it was alien to the time frame, but I'm sure in the order the books were written it made sense.
The character of Hornblower progresses from a good flawed human being who is likable to a bit of a paradox, someone who seems a bipolar mix of caring humanity and a chronically miserable judgemental curmudgeon... he feels deeply for causing people harm, but can't seem to simply look at someone without thinking their faces ugly or otherwise unattractive. I particularly find his attitude of his first wife to detract a lot from his likeability, his comments and thoughts of her makes him seem more than a little mysoginistic, but then just when you start to dislike him he becomes self depreciating or does something decent that draws you back in... 11 may have been too many for one run in this series, compared to CASCA, which had twice as many books and yet at the end I was feeling pulled away, this one was getting less eventful and more mundane as it wore on... also likely due to being written out of order and different perspective / experience of the author at different times.
I very much liked the way the flow made months of nautical trudgery into a very moving and compelling story line. Battles really carried the harried visceral feel that quicken your blood as you read.
On the down side, this also broke down between books, evidently finding out that they were written decades apart and way out of order, that explains that... But it ended up tossing me between a cliff hanger at the end of one book and completely lost in the middle of a new story (already in progress) in the following book... Making me feel I'd jumped an episode, and chunks missing were of disorienting consequence. I really had trouble getting a grasp of character ages along the way too. There was one flash forward early on in the books... number 3 I think, that detailed a time frame of Hornblower and his wife at an old-ish age that was both a spoiler in many regards and confusing in chronological order because it was alien to the time frame, but I'm sure in the order the books were written it made sense.
The character of Hornblower progresses from a good flawed human being who is likable to a bit of a paradox, someone who seems a bipolar mix of caring humanity and a chronically miserable judgemental curmudgeon... he feels deeply for causing people harm, but can't seem to simply look at someone without thinking their faces ugly or otherwise unattractive. I particularly find his attitude of his first wife to detract a lot from his likeability, his comments and thoughts of her makes him seem more than a little mysoginistic, but then just when you start to dislike him he becomes self depreciating or does something decent that draws you back in... 11 may have been too many for one run in this series, compared to CASCA, which had twice as many books and yet at the end I was feeling pulled away, this one was getting less eventful and more mundane as it wore on... also likely due to being written out of order and different perspective / experience of the author at different times.
June 20, 2017
Horatio Hornblower: Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, C.S. Forester: A few years back I bought a copy of "Captain Horatio Hornblower," a 1951 color film with Gregory Peck. It was a movie I had seen when I was a kid and have fond memories. (Don't hold your 21st Century movie standards against it.) Anyway, seeing it led me to look up the books by C.S. Forster, and I was happy to discover there are a number of books in the Horatio Hornblower series, that I had my wife get me for Christmas.
Once I started the books I could not put them down. I have read everyone of them 2-3 times, with my favorite, the HB and the Hotspur at least five times.
Horatio Hornblower is an officer in Her Majesty's Service during the Napoleonic Wars and the series takes place from the early years of Hornblower as a Midshipman up until he is a lord under command of all naval forces in the West Indies. Most of the books have Hornblower in command of a ship and engaged in some adventure or another to thwart ol' Boney (Napoleon).
Very well written series with a great character in Hornblower and his crews. His writing of sailing ships is superb (I'm no expert) and you will become completely immersed in his world on the high seas.
Once I started the books I could not put them down. I have read everyone of them 2-3 times, with my favorite, the HB and the Hotspur at least five times.
Horatio Hornblower is an officer in Her Majesty's Service during the Napoleonic Wars and the series takes place from the early years of Hornblower as a Midshipman up until he is a lord under command of all naval forces in the West Indies. Most of the books have Hornblower in command of a ship and engaged in some adventure or another to thwart ol' Boney (Napoleon).
Very well written series with a great character in Hornblower and his crews. His writing of sailing ships is superb (I'm no expert) and you will become completely immersed in his world on the high seas.
March 10, 2019
The first two books are a little slow and probably the least interesting of the series, but then it never looks back. Well written and a keen study of a brilliant though flawed mind, immersed in a world so real you can almost feel the spray on your cheek. I'm not a history buff, I don't read historical novel, I'm not a fan of naval adventures, but the main character is intriguing, even if you want to slap him at times, but his brilliance and boldness are addicting, as is the adventure and edge of your seat action. His romantic life also makes you want to slap him, but happily there isn't much time for romance at sea!
August 4, 2022
I am in my 60’s now but read this series for the first time in my young teens. My father introduced me to these books encouraging me to read more. A lover a sailing and maritime history. But what I loved most about this series was strength of character as Horatio moved from an awkward young boy to a companionate, honorable leader of men. Years later I discovered my husband had also read the series as young man. Something in common and character traits to be admired.
December 2, 2022
I love a good sailing story, but what I love about this series is that it takes place in the Napoleonic Era. By combining two of my favorite things (Napoleon and seafaring), C.S. Forester managed to keep me engaged throughout the 11 book series. To really understand the series and characters it is best to read them in order; however, if you start in the middle you will only be a little confused. I love that you can start anywhere and still enjoy Horatio's journey.
October 5, 2019
I started reading this series when I was in vacation on Martha's Vineyard many years ago. I never thought it would be that interesting, but I was so wrong. C.S. Forrester's series was so good, I ended up reading many of the books in this series. A&E turned them into a TV series.
January 21, 2025
Tolle Jugenderinnerung. Nach der Schatzinsel war der Appetit auf Seefahrtabenteuer geweckt und wurde von Horatio Hornblower gestillt.
[disclaimer: 3 Sterne sind Bücher die ich sehr genossen habe, 4 Sterne hab ich verschlungen, 5 Sterne nur für Bücher die ich mehrfach gelesen habe,Suchtfaktor]
[disclaimer: 3 Sterne sind Bücher die ich sehr genossen habe, 4 Sterne hab ich verschlungen, 5 Sterne nur für Bücher die ich mehrfach gelesen habe,Suchtfaktor]
May 9, 2018
This is an excellent swashbuckling series that is best read in chronological order.
November 16, 2018
Enjoyable series
November 29, 2018
First 7 or so books are good. Goes down hill fast
December 31, 2018
I loved his sense of self doubt and how he drove himself.
July 25, 2020
Each book of the Horatio Hornblower series is magnificent. I only wish C.S. Forester had lived longer to write more of Lord Hornblower's adventures.
December 24, 2020
A lire absolument
December 7, 2021
Loved all 11 adventures!
April 19, 2025
Re-read from about 3 years ago - slower this time
The Naval jargon is fascinating.
Adventure on the high seas!
The Naval jargon is fascinating.
Adventure on the high seas!
June 17, 2026
The personality and heroism of Horatio makes this series a great read!
December 11, 2012
1st Book; Horatio Hornblower, Midshipman; finished reading 8/26/12; rated 4 stars; looking forward to the rest of them.
2nd Book; Lieutenant Hornblower; finished reading 11/7/12; rated 5 stars; I think even better than the first; interesting that most of the book was from Lieutenant Bush's perspective.
3rd Book; Hornblower and the Hotspur; finished reading 11/11/12; rated 4 stars; just as good as the others. This book is 3rd chronologically within the series, but was actually the last one that he completed.
4th Book: Hornblower and the Crisis; finished 11/18/12; rated 4 stars though incomplete; this book was never finished, though the part that lays out the plot for the finish is there, so the rest can be easily imagined. There are also a couple extras that I think were written, but never made part of the books.
5th Book; Hornblower and the Atropos; finished 11/25/12; rated 4 stars; this copy was read by a different reader who wasn't bad, but I'm not sure that I cared for him as much. Still very enjoyable.
6th Book; The Happy Return (or Beat to Quarters); finished 11/28/12; rated 4 stars; another good book with HH commanding a frigate in the Pacific; also involves a little infidelity; may be interesting to see where that leads.
7th Book; A Ship of the Line; finished 12/1/12; rated 4 stars; ended with him striking his colors; looks like he might be a French prisoner this time. At the end of the first book, he had spent two years in a spanish prison. So what next. Don't even know who all survived the fight, though I don't think it will be many. It was his ship against four.
8th Book; Flying Colours; finished 12/3/12; rated 4 stars; probably enjoyed it the most even though it had very little time at sea. Though sadly his wife died in childbirth while he was in France.
9th Book; The Commodore; finished 12/5/12; rated 4 stars; HH commands a rather strange flotila in the Baltic.
10th Book; Lord Hornblower; finished 12/8/12; rated 4 stars; a sad tale with two tragic deaths and more infidelity. More time in France as a wanted man.
11th Book; Hornblower in the West Indies; not currently available from Audible.com, so purchased it from AudioGo.com; finished 12/10/12; rated 5 stars
2nd Book; Lieutenant Hornblower; finished reading 11/7/12; rated 5 stars; I think even better than the first; interesting that most of the book was from Lieutenant Bush's perspective.
3rd Book; Hornblower and the Hotspur; finished reading 11/11/12; rated 4 stars; just as good as the others. This book is 3rd chronologically within the series, but was actually the last one that he completed.
4th Book: Hornblower and the Crisis; finished 11/18/12; rated 4 stars though incomplete; this book was never finished, though the part that lays out the plot for the finish is there, so the rest can be easily imagined. There are also a couple extras that I think were written, but never made part of the books.
5th Book; Hornblower and the Atropos; finished 11/25/12; rated 4 stars; this copy was read by a different reader who wasn't bad, but I'm not sure that I cared for him as much. Still very enjoyable.
6th Book; The Happy Return (or Beat to Quarters); finished 11/28/12; rated 4 stars; another good book with HH commanding a frigate in the Pacific; also involves a little infidelity; may be interesting to see where that leads.
7th Book; A Ship of the Line; finished 12/1/12; rated 4 stars; ended with him striking his colors; looks like he might be a French prisoner this time. At the end of the first book, he had spent two years in a spanish prison. So what next. Don't even know who all survived the fight, though I don't think it will be many. It was his ship against four.
8th Book; Flying Colours; finished 12/3/12; rated 4 stars; probably enjoyed it the most even though it had very little time at sea. Though sadly his wife died in childbirth while he was in France.
9th Book; The Commodore; finished 12/5/12; rated 4 stars; HH commands a rather strange flotila in the Baltic.
10th Book; Lord Hornblower; finished 12/8/12; rated 4 stars; a sad tale with two tragic deaths and more infidelity. More time in France as a wanted man.
11th Book; Hornblower in the West Indies; not currently available from Audible.com, so purchased it from AudioGo.com; finished 12/10/12; rated 5 stars
January 7, 2014
"Headstrong Bravado in the Royal Navy!"
In CS Forester's first book of the now famous HORATIO HORNBLOWER series, the resourceful hero acquires his sea legs--plus the respect of some of his superiors and peers. Young, unpredictable, quick to anger and self-reproach, he grows to love the life of a seaman in majesty's 18th century service. When not outsmarting the Frogs or the Dons, HH dazzles seasoned naval officers with incredible daring and brazen foolhardiness--which often succeed! Although a raw youth of 17, he learns to swallow his pride as he metes out his own self-punishment--in rough and ready maritime morality.
Forester points out the benefits of linguistic skills, as his hero is pitted against a pompous French captain and a wily Spanish Don. His adventures in this debut novel run the gamut of foreign intrigue, shipboard politics, and naval life in general--all served up with an extra measure of human nature. Thanks to Forester's remarkable knowledge of the maritime milieu, the entire series offers readers great details about various types of ships, national differences on the high seas, and the inevitable internal and foreign affairs. An underlying theme emerges re the responsibility and fitness of those in command. This is one delightful swashbuckler which will appeal to mens (and women) of all ages! Set your sights on Adventure!
In CS Forester's first book of the now famous HORATIO HORNBLOWER series, the resourceful hero acquires his sea legs--plus the respect of some of his superiors and peers. Young, unpredictable, quick to anger and self-reproach, he grows to love the life of a seaman in majesty's 18th century service. When not outsmarting the Frogs or the Dons, HH dazzles seasoned naval officers with incredible daring and brazen foolhardiness--which often succeed! Although a raw youth of 17, he learns to swallow his pride as he metes out his own self-punishment--in rough and ready maritime morality.
Forester points out the benefits of linguistic skills, as his hero is pitted against a pompous French captain and a wily Spanish Don. His adventures in this debut novel run the gamut of foreign intrigue, shipboard politics, and naval life in general--all served up with an extra measure of human nature. Thanks to Forester's remarkable knowledge of the maritime milieu, the entire series offers readers great details about various types of ships, national differences on the high seas, and the inevitable internal and foreign affairs. An underlying theme emerges re the responsibility and fitness of those in command. This is one delightful swashbuckler which will appeal to mens (and women) of all ages! Set your sights on Adventure!
December 31, 2008
Its not very often I have this much fun reading. 'In storm, in flame, in blood, and in love, the plot unfolds.' from the Christian Science Monitor. Wow. Have you ever had that feeling when something just tailor-made for you drops out of the sky? I mean, really? I haven't been able to put this series down..but to summarize, C.S. Foreseter's hero, Horatio Hornblower, is a British Naval Officer in the Royal Fleet whose country is fighting for its life against Napoleon. Hornblower is a unique figure; a man with an accursed unhappy temperament who is a brilliant young tactician, although he doesn't know it.
What makes this series so special is not only the awe-inspiring deckplate knowledge of wooden ships, but a deep psychological penetration of the men who man them. I learned a lot. About everything. One of my favorite sticking points is the ruthless lack of sentimentality characteristic of the age. God those guys were tough. Read it for yourself. Of course I very much identify with this introverted bravado, but that's beside the point. 10 volumes, starting with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower up to Admiral Hornblower of the West Indies. Well done!!
What makes this series so special is not only the awe-inspiring deckplate knowledge of wooden ships, but a deep psychological penetration of the men who man them. I learned a lot. About everything. One of my favorite sticking points is the ruthless lack of sentimentality characteristic of the age. God those guys were tough. Read it for yourself. Of course I very much identify with this introverted bravado, but that's beside the point. 10 volumes, starting with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower up to Admiral Hornblower of the West Indies. Well done!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews