Hornblower : Beat to Quarters by C. S. Forester
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Book Reviews of Hornblower : Beat to Quarters
Book Review: A mission to the Pacific
Summary: 5 Stars
This was the first Hornblower novel written. The original Hornblower motion picture was based on this novel and the following two novels ("Ship of the Line" and "Flying Colours"). The author later went back to fill in the details of Hornblower's early career, explaining the early relationship with Bush, etc. You could actually start reading the novels with this one, but it is better to start with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, and follow Hornblower's career from the beginning. C. Northcote Parkinson wrote a fictional biography of Hornblower which fills in a fictional account of his early life. C.S. Forester later wrote "the Hornblower Companion" which should probably be acquired when you start reading the series.
Hornblower is sent off to the Pacific to aid a revolutionary leader who is in rebellion against Spain (an enemy of my enemy is my friend), a dangerous practice (Germany later aided Lenin to start the Russian Revolution during World War I). After arming the revolutionary army, and capturing a Spanish ship which he gives to the rebel leader (who has him under the guns of a fortress), he discovers that Spain is no longer at war with England. Slow communications across the ocean caused many miscues during that historical period.
Having turned loose a rebel army, Hornblower now finds he is allied with Spain, and must now fight the rebel army he created. He must retake the ship which he had captured and turned over to the rebels. He is fortunate that the rebel leader is not a seaman, and prevails at some cost in casualties.
Hornblower also acquires a romantic interest, meeting the woman he later marries as his second wife (see Commodore Hornblower), a woman with considerable influence at court. As usual with Hornblower, he gets no prize money but lots of official recognition, so starts out in the next novel as a financially poor captain in command of a ship of the line.
The three novels, "Beat to Quarters," "Ship of the Line," and "Flying Colours" should be read as a trilogy.
Book Review: Excellent Reading!
Summary: 5 Stars
I understand that this is the first Hornblower book written. That explains a lot. It is actually the sixth, chronologically, in Hornblower's career.First of all, Lieutenant Bush is back. But, it is not too well described the relationship and history between Bush and Hornblower. But, this is the first book written, so at the time of writing, there wasn't any history....
Anyway, Hornblower is his typical self. Very unsure of his skills and abilities and far too worried about keeping up his image in front of the men.
The story is excellent. A seven month voyage on a secret mission. Hornblower follows his orders explicitly. Never to touch land until his destination. Well, imagine how the world of politics can change in seven months. Hornblower has had no new information about the war since he left England.
Enemies are now friends. Friends are now enemies.
As for the action scenes.... This is one of the best described ship to ship sequences I have ever read. As usual, Hornblower is outgunned. However, he has the smaller faster ship and is able to outmeneuver his opponent. The battle lasts well over 12 hours of his time. It is interupted by a driving storm and night.
At dawn, the enemy is sighted. There is little or no wind. Hornblowers lowers the boats and begins a stern chase by being towed. As he closes, the other ship uses it's heavier weight of iron to deliver broadside after broadside at extreme range. Hornblower has to endure this for several hours before his smaller guns are within range. At that point, the training and discipline of the English sailors takes it's toll.
With the politics aside, this book is a great read.
Book Review: The Pinnacle of Naval Fiction
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is, quite simply, the best novel of naval warfare ever written. Upon reading it some eighteen years ago, I became interested in a naval career. Now, after nine years of commissioned service, and counting, I have reread Beat To Quarters at least four times. I enjoy it more each time. The character of Captain Hornblower is an excellent leadership study. While the uninitiated reader may question Hornblower's efforts to remain distant from his men, the military leader will recognize in Forester's hero a human being struggling to maintain a necessary distance from men whom his orders may kill. His moment of self-satisfaction at a perfect landfall after weeks out of sight of land, his self-doubts as he makes momentous decisions without contact with higher authority, and his sobering knowledge that, as captain, he is all alone make us believe that Horatio Hornblower is a very real man. The battle scenes are extremely well written, and the presence of Lady Wellesley, which could seem contrived, adds to the quality of the book by showing the reader one more facet of Hornblower's personality. As she sees through his protective callousness, so do we.
After nearly a decade in the Naval Service, I still view the Hornblower saga as the best naval fiction I have ever read. The only book which approaches Forester's ability to place the reader into the minds of men on board a ship of war is Wouk's The Caine Mutiny.
I cannot praise this book highly enough.
Book Review: I ignored an actual battle to read this...
Summary: 5 Stars
...or, to be more precise, I sat within yards of a major Civil War re-enactment so engrossed in this book that I managed to ignore artillery and musket fire. I am a big fan of the Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian, but previously looked down my nose at Hornblower, I think because I knew it solely from TV and movies. This book never slows down for a minute--not just battles but ship repair and revictualling seem gripping in the hands of Forester. Based on the films, I was not expecting Hornblower to show much internal life--he always seems to be superhuman on screen, but in the book he must struggle with his softer nature to develop his imperious style. Likewise I expected nothing interesting in the way of female characters, but it was a happy surprise to find Lady Barbara Wellesley on board ship.
If you will forgive a few O'Brian/Forrester comparisons: O'Brian is funnier. Forrester's battle scenes are a bit easier for me to follow. Hornblower is a more interesting or at least complex character than Aubrey, but O'Brian has the advantage of Maturin, who not only adds character but allows for dialogue rather than the perennial internal monologues Hornblower has with himself because he has no one of rank to talk to.
I hope that more seasoned readers of the series will agree with this appeal to newer readers: Even if you have read neither author, this book is a good place to start.
Book Review: First Hornblower written, maybe the best.
Summary: 5 Stars
Beat to Quarters was the first of the Hornblower books that Forester wrote. It's a tale of adventure off the west coast of Central America during the early part of the 19th century. Among the problems that Captain Hornblower faces are the changing politics of Spain, are they on our side, or against us. Are we supporting the rebels fighting Spanish rule, or helping them? Hornblower has to capture a much larger Spanish ship twice, once from the Spanish, and once from the rebels he turned it over to. Like all the Hornblower adventures, Forester includes a lot of detailed description of the daily life and hardships of life in the English Navy during the age when ships were of wood and men were of iron. After his final sea battle, which sinks his prize and prevents him from gaining prize money, Hornblower has to careen his own ship on a hidden beach to patch it up before the long trip home. He meets Lady Barbara in Panama, who is to be his future wife and love, but that is for a later story. Whether you read them in the order written, Beat to Quarters first, or in chronological order of Hornblower's life, it's a rousing good tale of the sea, of men and of honor.