Commodore Hornblower (Hornblower Saga) by C. S. Forester
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Book Reviews of Commodore Hornblower (Hornblower Saga)
Book Review: Great Read
Summary: 5 Stars
Another great book in the Hornblower series. It really gives you a realistic insight to what life was like in those days. You truly feel that you are right there with Horatio.Book Review: Hornblower #9
Summary: 5 Stars
Brilliant book... Brilliant series...
Sad to think that I will soon have read them all.
Pity these books are not available for the Kindle.
Book Review: Buy the whole package
Summary: 5 Stars
Start with Midshipman Hornblower and take a vacation. You won't put any book in the series down until you finish them all.Book Review: Another fine showing in this series
Summary: 4 Stars
This Hornblower novel was a very good one. A lot of it is about politics on land just before and during the beginning stages of Napolean's invasion of Russia.Hornblower has some new fangled weapons that he has never used before. Bomb ketches. He has two of them. What they really are is small vessels containing two 13 inch mortars each. The are ideal for bombarding with a plunging fire over walls and other obstacles. Incredibly accurate and very destructive. Hornblower has two occasions on which to use them. And, as might be expected, with great success.
Anyway, Hornblower is made commodore of a small squadron of ships, including Nonsuch captained by none other than his life long friend, Bush. He is set upon a mission to assist the Russians in the Baltic in any way in which he see fit. Perfect orders for someone that is willing to think outside the box.
Hornblower ends up sinking a French privateer. As can be expected, the French are outraged and invade the small country of Pomerania in defiance. This causes the Russions to become a little upset. Eventually, the French launch the invasion of Russia. The Russians are soundly beaten on all fronts except for the small port town of Riga. Hornblower is able to help with the defense of the town and it's approaches. He even leads an infantry assault into the French trench line.
This is another good book. Not a whole lot of naval action, but enough to keep the nautically minded interested. Lots of politics and history though. There is not a lot of information on the Baltic theatre of the war. Napolean was being attacked and beaten in the south by Wellington. For some unknown reason, Napolean thought that it would be a good time to attack Russia. His invasion started during the summer. They were in moscow by November. But Russia's ally, Old Man Winter, was waiting. He chased the French all the way back to Poland and beyond. During the withdrawal of the French, his allies were defecting left and right. First the Spanish and the Portugese. A few weeks later the Austriand and Germans, then the Prussians.
Well worth the read.
Book Review: The saga continues
Summary: 4 Stars
Commodore Hornblower is an excellent continuation of the adventures of Horatio Hornblower. Fresh from his dramatic victory in Spain and France, Hornblower is dispatched to the Baltic. His mission is to both frustrate Napoleon and support Russia, one of the few nations yet to be conquered by the tyrant.The result is a tale that fits in perfectly with the Hornblower cannon. Horatio's adventures in the Baltic cover the whole gamut from challenging French privateers to foiling assassination plots to fending off a siege in Riga. And Forester levens the action with a constant reminder of the historical context. 1812 was possibly the most desperate year for England, when it seemed the whole world was against her. (Although, perhaps with his audience in mind, Forester tacitly left out the fact that Britain was at war with America as well. For history buffs, this omission is conspicuous.)
Hornblower is his usual compelling self -- brave, brilliant but with his dark sides. He make decisions and has thoughts that would be considered far too complex and realistic for today's action heroes. I found myself as fascinated by Hornblower himself as I was by the thrilling action scenes.
This is an excellent continuation of the Hornblower series.