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I can see why you're reading the Hornblower books in the order they were written -- but the characters get less wooden and the settings more alive a few books into the series, which of course was not written in a set chronological sequence. This tendency is visible I think, to a lesser extent to be sure, in O'Brian.
I think some of the books about the younger Hornblower, written a bit later when Forester had hit his stride, are the most fun. My personal favorite of the series is Lieutenant Hornblower, which is told from the perspective of Wm. Bush. Yet my second favorite is probably Admiral Hornbloer in the West Indies.
I long have wished that O'Brian would have felt free to diverge from his linear chronology (even with a decade-long 1812!) so that he could have written about Jack and/or Stephen before they met in 1801, or alternately, in the longish gaps between some of the story lines in the earlier books.
This is good to know. I think writers of series books either peak with the first book and never quite reach that high again, or they better as they write more. I was hoping for the latter, which is why I decided to read them in the order they were written.

An old topic but i was wondering if there were any fans that arent decades old fans of the books.
I discovered him with The Happy Return only late 2008 and was so impressed that i have read chrono wise from Mr Midshipman Hornblower,Lieutenant Hornblower,Hornblower and the Hotspur,Hornblower under The Crisis and currently reading Hornblower and the Atropos.



I will read O'Brian again after Forester only because im interesting in historical nautical tales now and there isnt many series like that that might actually be good.
I have read many historical fiction writers from Conn Iggulden to Cornwell but C.S Forester is a must read to me. You dont even have to be intersted naval story to like it. I never even cared about nautical,navy stories before it in any genre from historical to fantasy.


The first Hornblower book i read i didnt understand a word of the terms. I used wiki every 5-10 mins until i find a wiki page that explained everything from the tack,abaft and many more complicated stuff.
So it wasnt the terms that was the problem for me. Maybe i will have a different perpective reading it again after several books of another Naval series. I have a big interest in the naval story,action but characters make or break series like these.


I have interest in historical non-fiction books too. But there is no hurry to this part of history.
Reading the real history about those days would ruin the books.

Now i have interest in other times too. I will go after Asian,african. The Ottman Empire history. Since they conqured my homeland in 1700s,1800s(Somalia) our family name is Osman from the turkish Ottman.
Also Napoleon era history. The guy was a fascinating man.
Who wouldnt be interested in a guy that went from a small island that wasnt seen as French to Emperor,almost conquered most of europe. I always wish in school that the history class was more Napoleon and his times,less French Revolution,WWII was something you learned about every year...

That said, I think the comparison is unfair. In general I find Hornblower to be adventure stories while POB are literary novels about two friends. Apples and oranges.
I am currently rereading both series (going back and forth every few books).

Dont mean any disrespect but just say POB series is simply better. I have heard that literary part too much. Dont make excuses like that.
Just because his writing style is different and not as straigtforward doesnt change that the fact both series are the same type of book. C.S Forester writing just is more fit for historical fiction.
Hornblower is both adventure and also a good account of the times. Sailing,naval part wise is really good too.

Stylistically, Patrick O'Brian is intentionally writing in a style contemporary with the period he is writing about. Clever cove that one, he got me to read and thoroughly enjoy Pride and Prejudice.

Style contemporary to the period is good and all but saying he is writing literary fiction is very snob way out of putiting it,just like people who think you cant write quality in genre fiction.
Of course i got the style while reading POB. I dont read historical fiction for books that are adventure oriented or books that tell more calm story about the times. You read good historical stories of any kind.
Like i said you can say 100 better reasons why you think POB series are better than saying writing "literary fiction"....

I didn't say I liked POB better because it is "literary fiction." You assumed that. I like POB better for a number of other reasons. But I still really like Forester, I just consider him to be writing a different kind of story altogether.
You disagree and call me a snob. Fine. Obviously you like Forester better. When I want a rip-roaring adventure, I prefer Forester too.

I didn't say I liked POB better because it is "literary fiction." You assumed that. I like POB better for a number of other reasons. But I still really like Forester, I ..."
I assumed because you said literary fiction like its something higher. Its just another type of fiction.
It doesnt matter to me who you really like of them two. I just reacted to the way you put it. I know there are writers that are more literary than others. I have read those in Science fiction,fantasy,horror,classic mainstream fiction.
But literary fiction is just another type of fiction. There are crappy lit there too.
Thats what i reacted to. I didnt mean to call you snob, it just sounded like that to me.

I got up to the last one chronologically and didn't really feel like reading any more. It was like, this is where the character ends up so it's the end of the story. Maybe if I'd been more engaged with the characters by then, I might have gone back to the later, um, earlier ones. You know what I mean! I prefer a bit more "depth of character" over "adventure". Although I am looking out for the DVDs, I much prefer "adventure" on the screen.
I find it amusing too, that my favourite part didn't even take place at sea, but on a river :)
I find it amusing too, that my favourite part didn't even take place at sea, but on a river :)

Since i read the books chrono order i must the first book Happy Return/Beat Quarters is stronger when its about characters than the prequals/younger Hornblower books.
Also i must wonder have you guys read any other good historical fiction about naval stories,sailing stories ? Doesnt have to be about the english navy or the same time period.

About prefering adventure on the screen i must say i have never seen a good historicl movie,tv show of any kind that could be near as good as a historical book. Unlike other genres.
A good action,horror,western,fantasy on screen for example for example.
Tv,movies seem to struggle with historical stories. They overdo it. Braveheart for example....
Thats why i admire my favorite Historical fiction writers so much.

I saw a book in Waterstones by an author I wanted to try, but it was over £30 (for a paperback!) so I didn't. There's also Alexander Kent but I haven't read him either. Maybe have a look at some of the books on the group shelves and then click-thro for GR members' reviews.
I did read too many in a row. I wouldn't be able to put a title to the story without looking at the actual book.

I saw a book in Waterstones by an author I wanted to try, but it was over £30 (for a paperback!) so I didn't. There's also Alexander Kent but I haven't read hi..."
Same here cause im on my 6 book of 11 Hornblower in few months. Eventually i will run out of books.
I have to look for other authors. Both early writers and contemporary writers.

here's his GoodReads page.
There's Joseph Conrad, good nautical fiction, but not naval. Naomi Novik if you like some fantasy in your historical fiction.

Joseph Conrad nautical series i checked up too but they werent too interesting. Short stories that didnt see to be much compared to what he is famous.


I know her series are famous for being Napoleonic wars with dragons. May not be much navy and very historical.
Still i find the idea of blending that type of fantasy with history so interesting so i hope that series of hers is good. Napoleonic era interest me alot in historical or fantasy doesnt matter much.


Honestly though, I got tired of the conceit after the first book.
Or maybe I just prefer straight historical fiction (or non-fiction) to fantasy/historical fiction.
Probably more the last part. YMMV.



by Dewey Lambdin Successor to Forester & POB??
Ramage (The Lord Ramage Novels)
by Dudley Pope
Farley Mowat for fiction & auto-bio novels some about sailing, somewhat.
Tristan Jones - auto-bios but good reads
Eric Newby Last Grain Race - auto-bio but a good read
Two Years before the Mast: A Sailor's Life at Sea
by Richard Henry Dana Jr.
Slow Boats to China
by Gavin Young Too good to pass up.
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
by Nathaniel Philbrick

by Nathaniel Philbrick "
I love Philbrick. His book on the USExEx, Sea of Glory, is really good.

opinions please...

I would advise reading them in chronological order, starting with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (see my comment above in message #5 in this thread). Then when you get to the "later" books that Forester wrote first, you can fill in the blanks a bit with the character.
My two cents!
Philip

I think the later books are better written than the younger Hornblower books.
Wasn't overly taken with it. In fact, I found the first chapters rather dull and the writing was awkward in places, so I put it down for a few days. When I went back to it, it picked up within a few pages. Easy read, if nothing else.
I'll give the second one a try, once I find a copy, and then see what I think.