Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

This was the first series of heroic historical fiction I ever read. Forester’s narratives had the power to pull me into the stories as if I was serving alongside Horatio Hornblower.

The series follows the exploits of seventeen-year-old Midshipman Hornblower in 1794 as he rises in rank and responsibilities to flag rank by 1815. During the course of the series, we watch Hornblower mature from an unsure, bookish teenager to become a self-confident and bold commander. Forester’s ability to meld true historical events and personages into his narratives captured me from the start and is a quality that I strive… show more.

I love sailing and the sea. It comes from a family heritage of sailing and why I love being at the ocean. The Napoleonic Wars and sea adventures were fundamental in our historical novel's journey, Horatio Hornblower’s career in the Royal Navy, as documented by C. S. Forester, is just as exciting today as they were when written. Hornblower’s rise through the ranks is as fascinating as the real-life stories of Admiral Nelson.

I love finding an author who has written a big, long, fun series of books. The entire Hornblower series (at least 15 of them) follows Horatio Hornblower as he works his way up from humble beginnings in the British Navy of the 1800s. The author, C.S. Forester, is probably best known for his fine book, The African Queen, from which the classic movie with Bogart was made. Mr. Midshipman Hornblower is the first of the series, and it won’t disappoint for a second. Fun, action-packed, historically correct…you can’t miss with this one.

The first and still one of my favorite books in CS Forester’s fabulous Hornblower series. Young Horatio is an unlikely hero. Tall, gawky, prone to seasickness, and terrified of heights, this young midshipman enters the Royal Navy near the beginning of Britain’s long struggle against Napoleon. He may not (at first) fit the mold of a dashing naval officer, but his quick thinking and rapid mastery of the fundamentals of seamanship draw the attention of Captain Edward Pellew, one of Britain’s most daring and successful captains. His patronage is rewarded as the awkward Midshipman proves his mettle against the French… show more.