Hornblower : Beat to Quarters by C. S. Forester
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Book Summary Author: C. S. Forester Edition: Paperback Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 1985-09-30 ISBN: 0316289329 Number of pages: 324 Publisher: Back Bay Books |
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Book Reviews of the Hornblower : Beat to Quarters
Customer Review: Engrossing and enjoyable, but heavy on the jargon
Summary: 3 Stars
I came to Forester's series on the "recommendation" of David Weber, who attributes to Forester's Hornblower the inspiration for his highly enjoyable space opera Honor Harrington series. Having read only the first, I must say I am glad I took the time to read (or listen) to it, as Horatio Hornblower is a character that one can like, admire, and sympathize with, even having never served in the military.I found Hornblower to be a character of great depth. While I pity his self-deprication, I admire him for it. I see the contradiction, the struggle in him, and I sympathize. I admire his sense of duty and his willingness to carry it out. I admire his compassion in a compassionless business, but his duty takes prescedence. While I don't always agree with him, he is a believable and likable character.
I don't know if Forester assumed that everyone who would read his novels was a seaman or if everyone in Britain in the 1940's WAS a seaman, but there is a great deal of jargon in the novel. I'm afraid that, having grown up in suburban America, I have no idea what the difference between a mizzenmast and a mainmast, what a forecastle is, which one is the quarterdeck, or (I looked up the others but still can't figure this one out) why they would SAND the decks for Hornblower's morning walks. I'd rather NOT have to look these things up in order to enjoy the book.
Forester has no gift for dialogue; there is not much speaking in the books, but for some reason, though I love dialogue, I don't mind it that much. I wish he would have dwelt more on some of the conversations between Hornblower and Lady Barbara, but I can live without them. Their relationship grows in a believable way nevertheless.
I am told this is the best book to start the Hornblower series with, and I believe it. It explains some of the relevant nuances the of Post-Napoleonic British Navy to the reader and gives a true feel for what it MIGHT be like to be a Captain in His Majesty's Navy. Despite the jargon, I did not feel like I was missing anything.
A good book overall. I will read the rest.