Hornblower stories

Mike L · 03-28-2013, 10:04 AM

I've recently re-discovered the Horatio Hornblower books by C. S. Forester, after a gap of many years. They are much more exciting than I remember. And also more enjoyable given that I now know more of the historical background.

If you are looking for historical naval novels set against the Napoleonic Wars, I can recommend these books. Start with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower. Although it wasn't the first to be written, it is the first in chronological order - the one that introduces the character.

The only problem I have is the baffling nautical terminology. I just have to ignore that.

Mike

HarryT · 03-28-2013, 11:02 AM

Yes, they are wonderful stories. For those us in the UK, they're usefully collected in 3 omnibus editions: "The Young Hornblower", "Captain Hownblower, R.N." and "Admiral Hornblower", plus one book left over at the end of the series ("Hornblower and the Crisis").

MickeyC · 03-28-2013, 07:58 PM

Can also recommend Patrick O'Brian

Apache · 03-28-2013, 08:24 PM

And The Richard Bolitho Series by Alexander Kent. I enjoyed all three.
Apache

jgaiser · 03-28-2013, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassidym

Can also recommend Patrick O'Brian

Yeah.. I came to the Hornblower novels because of O'Brian. Quite a bit more technically detailed than the Hornblower novels, but the two I've read have been enjoyable.

Dr. Drib · 03-29-2013, 09:13 AM

I have yet to read any of these, but have heard about the character ever since I was a teenager.

Should they be read in order?

or:

which one should I read first?

Thanks.

Don

Mike L · 03-29-2013, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Should they be read in order?
...
which one should I read first?

Yes, they should be read in chronological order, because, as a series they follow Hornblower through his career, from a 17-year old midshipman to a knighted admiral and baron.

However, the first one in the chronology - Mr Midshipman Hornblower - was not the first one that Forester wrote. Start with that one because it's the one that introduces us to the character.

Mike

Dr. Drib · 03-29-2013, 10:36 AM

Thanks, Mike.

That will be the one I'll start with.

Don

Mike L · 03-29-2013, 02:56 PM

For a list of all the titles in chronological order:

http://www.librarything.com/series/H...ological+Order

Mike

CRussel · 03-29-2013, 04:10 PM

I recently re-read these as well, and can very much recommend them. In some ways, they're not as good, IMO, as the O'Brian Aubrey/Maturin books, but they are still excellent. (The Alexander Kent Bolitho books are good, but I'd put them a step down from the Hornblower or O'Brian books.)

pdurrant · 03-29-2013, 04:59 PM

Hornblower is an excellent series. Well worth giving a go if you like historical fiction at all.

crich70 · 03-29-2013, 05:01 PM

Yep, I have several in pbook. They are out in ebook format too I think though not cheap probably.

CRussel · 03-29-2013, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

Yep, I have several in pbook. They are out in ebook format too I think though not cheap probably.

Check your local library. I know I was able to get all of them from mine...

MickeyC · 03-30-2013, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Hornblower is an excellent series. Well worth giving a go if you like historical fiction at all.

And, if you like historical fiction, you absolutely have to read the George MacDonald Fraser Flashman series. They take place in the Victorian era and are very accurate, interesting and VERY funny.

AlexBell · 03-31-2013, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassidym

And, if you like historical fiction, you absolutely have to read the George MacDonald Fraser Flashman series. They take place in the Victorian era and are very accurate, interesting and VERY funny.

I agree, and there are lots of footnotes and documentation. But at least in the ebook version I tried a couple of years ago the formatting was pretty poor. I have all the paperbacks, and might try again to see if the formatting has improved.

03-28-2013, 10:04 AM	#1
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	Hornblower stories I've recently re-discovered the Horatio Hornblower books by C. S. Forester, after a gap of many years. They are much more exciting than I remember. And also more enjoyable given that I now know more of the historical background. If you are looking for historical naval novels set against the Napoleonic Wars, I can recommend these books. Start with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower. Although it wasn't the first to be written, it is the first in chronological order - the one that introduces the character. The only problem I have is the baffling nautical terminology. I just have to ignore that. Mike

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03-28-2013, 11:02 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yes, they are wonderful stories. For those us in the UK, they're usefully collected in 3 omnibus editions: "The Young Hornblower", "Captain Hownblower, R.N." and "Admiral Hornblower", plus one book left over at the end of the series ("Hornblower and the Crisis").

03-28-2013, 07:58 PM	#3
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Can also recommend Patrick O'Brian

03-28-2013, 08:24 PM	#4
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	And The Richard Bolitho Series by Alexander Kent. I enjoyed all three. Apache

03-29-2013, 09:13 AM	#6
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,614 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	I have yet to read any of these, but have heard about the character ever since I was a teenager. Should they be read in order? or: which one should I read first? Thanks. Don

03-29-2013, 10:36 AM	#8
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,614 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Thanks, Mike. That will be the one I'll start with. Don

03-29-2013, 02:56 PM	#9
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	For a list of all the titles in chronological order: http://www.librarything.com/series/H...ological+Order Mike

03-29-2013, 04:10 PM	#10
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,323 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	I recently re-read these as well, and can very much recommend them. In some ways, they're not as good, IMO, as the O'Brian Aubrey/Maturin books, but they are still excellent. (The Alexander Kent Bolitho books are good, but I'd put them a step down from the Hornblower or O'Brian books.)

03-29-2013, 04:59 PM	#11
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 74,449 Karma: 318076944 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Hornblower is an excellent series. Well worth giving a go if you like historical fiction at all.

03-29-2013, 05:01 PM	#12
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Yep, I have several in pbook. They are out in ebook format too I think though not cheap probably.