reviews - books, movies, tv series

Category: Military Adventures These books were written a long time ago, but they still have plenty of magic in them. They're about a (fictional) famous sea captain, Horatio Hornblower, and traces his adventures from his start as a midshipman to a British Lord and navy Admiral. Hornblower is a really cool character because he's multidimensional -- with flaws and weaknesses, he can be moody, irritable, shy, but he is always human, and with a warmth that makes you care for him. The books were written out of order, and should be read in this order:

	Mr. Midshipman Hornblower: The early career of Horatio Hornblower of the British Royal Navy is traced in a series of adventurous episodes. They illustrate the quick thinking, brilliant intuition, and decisiveness characteristic of our hero and leave him with the rank of lieutenant. 1950
	Hornblower during the Crisis: There are three stories in this novel. Read the "Hornblower's Temptation," which takes place before the events in Lieutenant Hornblower, an Irishman condemned to die wants Hornblower to undertake an apparently innocuous assignment. 1967
	Lieutenant Hornblower: Hornblower emerges from his apprenticeship as midshipman to assume the responsibilities forced upon him by the war between Napoleon and Spain, and his career on board the HMS Renown up to his promotion to commodore is followed. Peace with France prevents his obtaining a command, and he is forced to earn a living playing whist in a club. 1952
	Hornblower and the Hotspur: Commander Hornblower marries Maria in England and soon afterward sails for duty off the French coast. War breaks out with France, involving Hornblower in a land raid and in several sea battles. 1962
	Hornblower during the Crisis: Read "Hornblower during the Crisis" (but not the other 2 stories). This was C.S. Forester's last Hornblower novel, and he died before he could finish writing it. Hornblower receives a promotion to captain and is relieved of his command of the Hotspur. When the new captain is court-martialed, Horatio is asked to testify. It continues on with Hornblower's idea of forging a letter from Napoleon and slipping it into a French captain's hand, leading the captain to come out and fight. 1967
	Hornblower and the Atropos: The captain's adventures include organizing the water part of Admiral Nelson's funeral procession, the recovery of treasure from a sunken ship, and two sea battles. 1953
	Beat to Quarters: Hornblower commands a frigate and is sent to Nicaragua to assist an uprising against the Spanish. He works first with and then against the mad El Supremo and warily agrees to give Lady Barbara transport to England. This was C.S. Forester's first novel, and I actually didn't like it as much as the others (esp. disliked Lady Barbara). 1937
	A Ship of the Line: Captain Hornblower and HMS Sutherland join forces blockading the Spanish coast in the Napoleonic conflict. In a battle with the French (4 against 1), the Sutherland is severely damaged, with 2/3 of the crew wounded or killed, and Hornblower is taken captive. The Sutherland's actions enable the British navy to win the Battle of Rosas. 1938 For more detailed geographic info, read Jetse C. Reijenga's essay.
	Flying Colours: Napoleon charges Hornblower with piracy, and the prisoner, his first mate Bush, and his servant (coxswain Brown) are escorted toward Paris. Brilliant escapes (especially handicapped with Bush, who's lost his foot and is still recovering), shelter by a French royalist, and a recapture of a British ship allow them to reach England, where Hornblower learns of the death of his wife, and faces a courtmartial for the loss of his ship in the previous book "A Ship of the Line". His escape comes at a fortuitous time for the British government, which had sorely needed a heroic figure for the public. 1939
	Commodore Hornblower: Hornblower is now married to Lady Barbara, but just as he's feeling restless in his new role as a squire, orders come from the Admiralty about a delicate mission to Russia and works with Colonel von Clausewitz in the Baltic. He is to convince Russia and Sweden not to join Bonaparte, with the threat of Napoleon's armies hovering on Russia's borders. 1945
	Lord Hornblower: Hornblower quells a mutiny, becomes governor of a French seaport, and helps defeat Napoleon. He becomes a peer of the realm, but declines to go to the Council of Vienna with his wife and his brother-in-law, the Duke of Wellington. 1946
	Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies: It is peacetime, but Hornblower works to prevent Bonapartists from rescuing Napoleon from St. Helena, suffers capture by pirates, and observes the triumph of Simon Bolivar. Returning home to England with Lady Barbara, Hornblower saves her and the crew from death in a hurricane. 1958
	Hornblower during the Crisis, and Two Stories: "Hornblower's Temptation" and "The Last Encounter": "The Last Encounter," concerns a meeting with Napoleon in 1848. 1967
	Hornblower Companion: A really cool illustrated guide to Hornblower's universe. For the Horny fanatic. =) Other relevant links: Technical Innovations in the Hornblower Series - Jetse C. Reijenga

MiniSeries BBC even produced a really cool miniseries.

	Horatio Hornblower: The Complete Adventures: The first 4 Horny movies were based on "Mr. Midshipman Hornblower"; the next 2 movies were based on "Lieutenant Hornblower."
	Horatio Hornblower: The New Adventures (Loyalty/Duty): I haven't seen the latest 2 movies yet.