4

The second novel written in C.S. Forester's magnificent Horatio Hornblower series (though it's the 8th in chronology -- how in the world did Forester write 11 Hornblower books in non-chronological order? Wow.) This one, like all of the others, is a joyous, adventuresome read. It hasn't so much plot as some, being mainly the recounting of events in the course of one sailing mission, but that doesn't keep it from being a terrific reading experience. Its surprising ending has me scrambling to find the next volume in the series. If you've never read a Hornblower book, grab "Mr. Midshipman Hornblower" and start there. If you like (or even if you don't like) seafaring adventure, you will fall in love with these books. Forester (who also wrote "The African Queen," among many other books) writes with great clarity and dry wit. This is one of the best of the series. ( )

Another great novel of an English captain at time of Napoleon which ends with him taking on 4 French ships at once and being forced to surrender. ( )

Summary: Hornblower finally gets a big ship to command and knows what to do with it.

Things I liked:

The way the character sizes up the other characters, some people would see this as cheap exposition, but I think it tells you a lot about Hornblowers view of the world and is not just a plot device.

The way the author keeps managing to find new challenges for the character no matter where he is in the chain of command. Not just more of the same.

Things I thought could be improved:

Cliffhangers I think are a bit cheap as a way to end a book. If I didn't have the next one ready to go I'd be a bit upset.

Hightlight:

The final battle 4-1 was awesome, Bush gets hammered, destruction everywhere. It's where you sort the Hornblower from everyone else ( )

This reads like the sophomore effort it is: while some of Hornblower's trademark brilliance makes an appearance, most of the book is a slog through the horrors and stupidities of war. Forester is clearly trying not to duplicate his first book but is just as clearly unsure how to tell a different sort of story and still entertain.

Because this is only rarely entertaining. Hornblower is awake to the psychological toll of war, but reading as he destroys the livelihoods of French civilians or accomplishes the Napoleonic war equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel is painful at best. Add in the constant hum of Hornblower's romantic angst, his admiral's incompetence, and the last ten pages of death, death, and more death—capped by a morose cliffhanger ending—and it's no wonder this is my least favorite of the series so far. ( )