Lord Hornblower (Hornblower Saga) by C. S. Forester
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Book Reviews of Lord Hornblower (Hornblower Saga)
Book Review: LORD HORNBLOWER by C. S. Forester
Summary: 3 Stars
Lord Hornblower (1946) is C. S. Forester's tenth Hornblower novel by chronology, fifth by publication. Commodore Horatio Hornblower is sent to the coast of France to deal with a ship of British mutineers who have threatened to take refuge in France. Not content just to handle this problem, Hornblower also gets himself involved in a French occupation and guerilla warfare.
The earliest part of Lord Hornblower, where Hornblower is dealing with the mutinous Flame, is the novel's best. It features an unpredictable and creative resolution that hearkens to many of Hornblower's pre-captaincy adventures. When the book moves into France, however, it suffers. Land campaigns are still not Forester's strong suit, and he skips over lengthy time periods where quite a lot happens in order to fit this story into one novel. One of Commodore Hornblower's main problems was that Hornblower was well-removed from the action, and never in any real danger. Forester has corrected this here, perhaps to the extreme.
Hornblower, as usual, is wildly successful in his endeavors, although he benefits greatly from several very convenient plot devices and not a little bit of deus ex machina. And as severe and hard on himself as Hornblower is in most areas of his life, and as guilty as he feels when he perceives a failing in himself, it continues to be remarkable that he always drops his pants the first chance he gets, with no regard for anyone but himself. At least he never really has the decency to feel bad about it afterward.
It has become quite clear that the novels of Hornblower's earlier career are superior - both the stories and the man himself are considerably more interesting and likable.
Book Review: Good for half of it
Summary: 3 Stars
This book started out so well. After Horatio Hornblower's triumph in the Baltic, he is assigned an incredibly difficult duty. He is to take back a ship that has mutinied against one of the most brutal captains in the Royal Navy. The ship is only a few miles from escaping to France and recapturing it is going to take all of Hornblower's ingenuity.When Lord Hornblower was dealing with this subject, I found it thrilling and captivating. But halfway through, it changes to Hornblower entering France and taking part in the rebellion against the tottering Napoleon. It was then that the novel ground to a screeching halt. Hornblower's attempts to deal with the crown prince of France are amazingly dull and his later guerilla campaign was unbelievable. Perhaps I was turned off by a developement with Bush halfway through that was abrupt and cold. But for some reason, the last half of his book dragged for me -- a situation I'd never experienced before in a Hornblower book.
I would probably still recommend purchasing this book if you've come this far. But don't get your hopes up. This is a low point in the series.
Book Review: The beginning is classic Hornblower; didn't like the last half
Summary: 3 Stars
The book starts out with another interesting problem for Hornblower to solve, which he does with great imagination and turns it into a much greater victory than anyone could imagine. I could have skipped the 2nd half of the book.
What turned me off? It was probably a couple of things. First, it had nothing to do with the sea and turned him into a guerilla fighter. It didn't fit with what he was good at. I also was disappointed in him for his blatant unfaithfulness to his beloved (?) wife. I shouldn't let that bother me, but it did. It is interesting to me that I can lose respect for a fictional character.