Lord Hornblower (Hornblower Saga) by C. S. Forester
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.95 You Save: $8.04 (57%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.07 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Lord Hornblower (Hornblower Saga)
Book Review: One of the Top 3 Hornblower books!
Summary: 5 Stars
For those of you who want their Hornblower books to be all sailing and fighting action, then you may have to turn to other books in the series. For those of you who like a good mix of character-driven plot, romantic escapades, political intrigue, as well as good old-fashioned swashbuckling adventure, then this one is for you.
This novel starts like many of the others in the series, with Hornblower receiving orders to perform a particular mission, this time to investigate and deal with a mutinous ship/crew. And he sets out to it with purpose. However, he accomplishes that mission in fairly short order and, in typical Hornblower fashion, brilliantly recognizes the larger picture and seizes an opportunity to take the battle to the enemy with potentially war-wide consequences.
This novel is a very important one in the series as it wraps up several story lines, both personal to Hornblower himself as well as generally to the progress of the war against Napolean. The characters are swept up in the rapidly changing ebb and flow of the greater conflict; it is indeed the best of times and the worst of times all in the space of a few chapters. As we near the end of the Hornblower saga (chronologically at any rate), it just keeps getting better and better.
Book Review: Entertaining and well-researched
Summary: 5 Stars
Forester is a first-rate novelist and while his books are often categorized at junior fiction there is enough inner conflict to make them an interesting read for adults. The descriptions are so vivid that one can feel the ship rocking on the waves. Horatio realizes that he is a hero in spite of himself and has survived the Napoleonic Wars by a miracle. He is fascinated with the French and with Catholics, possibly because of Marie de Gracay, the great love of his life, who reappears in Lord Hornblower. Marie's presence throws a wrench into Horatio's already tumultuous relationship with his strong-willed wife, Lady Barbara. Barbara is as cold and ambitious as Marie is warm and self-sacrificing. Horatio is torn, but events happen quickly and choices are made for him.
Forester does not glamorize Napoleon but exposes him for the dictator he was, with an emphasis on the loss of life caused by the wars of conquest. The restoration of the Bourbons is shown as an event to be celebrated, while not minimizing their shortcomings. Forester's research is flawless and his writing is entertaining. I highly recommend his novels.
Book Review: An amazing saga of a British naval officer's career.
Summary: 5 Stars
I'd like to answer the British Columbia readers question. There are 11 novels in C.S. Forrester's Hornblower saga. Additionally, at least one publisher has books that contain up to three of the novels in one volume. Interestingly, Forester didn't write the 11 books in chronological order. Consequently, some publishers elect to place numbers on the spine of each book to indicate where a particular title falls in the chronology. The current US printing (1999), by Back Bay Books, a division of Little Brown and Co., is not complete. At least the last three chronological titles (Commodore Hornblower, Lord Hornblower and Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies) will hit the shelves later in 1999. I can't wait. Each book stands on its own and every one is addictive.Book Review: The end of the wars.
Summary: 5 Stars
Hornblowers 2nd to last book details his actions and the Napoleonic wars finally draw to a close. Several loose ends in the series are tied up.We start with Hornblower summoned to quelch an uprising on a British Brig and end with a Chase through the French Countryside during the hundred days.
Hornblower is as ever both dynamic and self doubting. His bursts of temper give the book some style as he tries to cope with post war life with Napoleon safely at Elba...
...or so the world thinks. This side of the character which is expanded on in the final book is just as interesting as the rest of the books which shows that good character development and fine writing make a series. Not just roaring guns.
Of course the roaring guns don't hurt either...
Book Review: A High Point In The Series
Summary: 5 Stars
C.S. Forester never fails to tell an exciting tale and 'Lord Hornblower', the 9th novel in the series, is one of the best. Centering on the time around the treaty of Fontainebleau and up through the hundred days and Waterloo, 'Lord Hornblower' has the recently made K.C.B. Hornblower dispactched to deal with a mutinous crew at sea. Eventually, the peace with France allows Hornblower to visit those who sheltered him there during the war. But when Napolean returns to lead France once again, Hornblower finds himself leading a band of partisans against the restored Emperor. This is the last Hornblower novel to take place during the wars and it is a more than fitting end to Hornblower's own battle with Napolean.