This book is basically divided into two parts - the first is a series of maps showing the areas where the various Hornblower books take place, and the routes he took. The information is pretty basic, and Forester doesn't go much into tactics or anything in detail - just a straight map and some comments. The second part, though, is practically a book on the "making of" Hornblower, his writing career and his insights into his own life and that of his fictional creation. This is where the real meat is, and well worth the price on its own. You realize how much of Forester was in Hornblower - of course, this is often true of many fictional characters, but here you can see the extent of the parallels in personality. Not essential for your Hornblower collection, but well worth a read nonetheless. For those with a desire for much more detail, track down C. Northecote Parkinson's "Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower, a fictional biography which is impeccably researched and "fills in the gaps" which Forester didn't chronicle about the naval hero.

I just got this book three days ago.... I was very excited when I got it. I have read several of the Hornblower novels years ago. I want to get back into the saga from the beginning and use this as a visual reference.

This book is similar to the one that was created for the Patrick O'Brian books. However, the second half of the book is notes and personal thoughts of CSF himself. Very interesting. I am looking forward to finding out the inner thoughts of this great author as he created and developed the Hornblower character as well as the various other characters.

The first part of the book presents maps and descriptions of the various events for each of the books. It's a wonderful tool to help understand visually the circumstances of the events of the books.

This book is a bargain for the Hornblower fan.

I would strongly recommend this book for any fan of the Hornblower novels.

I have written my review for someone who has read most or all of the Hornblower novels. If you have not read most of the novels and plan to, do not read the rest of this review. This review may inadvertently spoil a future story for you, although I tried to avoid doing that.

When I found this book, I did not know what to expect. I had noticed that some reviewers of the Horatio Hornblower novels seemed to have background on Forester's writing influences that I wished I had. I didn't know that those references were contained in an extended essay contained in the second half of this book, described as Author's Personal Notes, 1963, and Postscript, dated 1964. What a treat!

Mr. Forester begins by showing a page of the long hand he used to draft the books. From there, he goes on to describe the general writing process that he favored for creating his novels. Then, he turns to the origins of Hornblower in his thinking. The book becomes even more fascinating as he explains the ways he developed each of the stories in the saga. I had always wondered why he did this in such an scattered chronology, but the essay makes it clear what the purposes were behind all of this seeming haphazardness. Knowing how tight many of the scrapes are into which Hornblower fell, you will marvel at how much thinking went into developing those fascinating scenarios. Mr. Forester also keeps a running background of the world events and activities in his own life (including illnesses) that played a role in his thinking. The postscript describes the development of the plot for the unfinished final novel, Hornblower During the Crisis.

After reading the essay, I was pleased to realize that I could now understand many of the quirks in the novels. If you read the novels in order, his wife, Maria, barely exists. Yet in Beat to Quarters, you get all kinds of development of Lady Barbara as a character. Forester notes that Maria was an afterthought to an assumption that Hornblower was married in Beat to Quarters, and Mr. Forester treated poor Maria in just that way when he later wrote her in as a character.

In the novels, there are many wonderful references to the Naval Chronicle, written by ships' officers to be read by other ships' officers, seamen and their families. Little did I know that reading old editions of the Chronicle was an important part of Mr. Forester's developing fascination with creating a fictional British naval officer hero for the Napoleonic years.

In the first half of the book, you get a series of simple maps which employ the place names used in the relevant novels to locate where key events took place in each story. You can enjoy these maps while reading the novels, or refer to them to refresh your mind about the plots after you have not read the books in some time. This arrangement makes sense, so that you will not learn too much about what happens in the future to Hornblower if you read the books in the chronological order of Hornblower's fictional life, beginning with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower. The first map is an overview of all the routes of all Hornblower's fictional voyages. The subsequent twenty-nine maps go through each book in order of the action. I wish I had had these maps available while I was reading Hornblower and the Hotspur and Ship of the Line. They would have added to my enjoyment. The maps for the canal and the Thames for Hornblower and the Atropos are very interesting as well.

Where else would it help to know the lay of the land and the issues involved before launching forward? Almost everywhere, I think.

Before blundering around without a clue, be sure to check that the resources you need are not available to you!

Forester's novel set in the first world war War is about the absolute resolve of a mother and her son. The mother that her son will become a naval hero, the son that he will do his duty. Duty over all. No matter what the concequences. Single handedly he contrives the destruction of a German cruiser. The novel is intense, the descriptions exacting. But no happy ending. Made into the 1953 movie "Sailor of the King" with a happier ending and a less detailed plot.

I read it when I was about 16. Its images stuck with me for over a quarter century. It is a tale about doing duty, doing duty whatever the personal costs. It deals with a upbringing in Victorian England by a single mother of her son. She is determined she will make a career for himself in the Royal Navy. The son is the product of an affair with the German Naval Liaison Officer stationed in London before WWI.

She resolves to learn everything about the navy she can and raise her son to serve. And serve he does, until it takes him to a deserted Galapogas Island in WWI where he does deadly battle as a single man with a German Cruiser repairing in the waters after a naval action.

No happy endings, just haunting images that stay with you. For me this is one of CS Forester's best novels. Read it if you can find a rare old edition in the second-hand bookstore.

It is difficult to put this series of novels down. I anxiously go from one novel in the series to the next and each one seems to be better than the last.
In this novel Captain Hornblower spends a great deal of time ashore so in addition to some life at sea and some great sea battles there is also a shore adventure that is also exciting.

This installment in the Hornblower series begins with Hornblower captured by the French. Subsequently he escapes and most of the remainder is about his chandestine travels through Napoleonic France. For an action novel of this kind (1800s sailing), characters are adequately developed and the action and suspense are adequate. Perhaps the most satisfying content is the historical portrait of life France at the time.

Flying Colors is the most introspective of the Hornblower novels. For those who want to understand who Hornblower really is, this book is probably the most revealing in the Hornblower series. Unlike the other stories which contain lots of naval action at sea, this book occurs mostly on the land of Spain and France, and the rivers of France. As a result, those who like the Hornblower novels for their battles and action will find this book to be one of the least satisfying in the series.

We all know ourselves best when we face problems. After the many successes in his career, Captain Hornblower ended up in Ship of the Line fighting an impossible battle between his ship, the Sutherland, and four French vessels. Taking horrible casualties, Hornblower struck his colors and surrendered at the end of that book. Flying Colors opens with Hornblower in a Spanish prison, with the expectation that he will be tried and executed for having flown French colors as camouflage to aid an attack. His wife, Maria, is pregnant in England. Hornblower also yearns for Lady Barbara Leighton, the wife of his admiral, whom readers met in Beat to Quarters and saw again in the beginning of Ship of the Line. Hornblower is in despair as he visits the dying and imprisoned sailors who are in the same garrison.

Many troubling questions go through Hornblower's mind. How well will he face death before a firing squad? Will his weak body betray him?

His first lieutenant, William Bush, is also to be tried. At the end of Ship of the Line, Bush lost the lower part of one leg. Will Bush survive the injury and trial?

What will happen to his wife and unborn child after he is dead?

Can he resist sweet temptation, when it is offered?

Can he escape death by firing squad?

Even if he escapes, how can he hope to be exonerated in a court martial for losing the Sutherland? Captains aren't supposed to surrender their vessels, no matter how badly damaged.

If he escapes the court martial, how will he handle being in love with Lady Barbara while being an unhappily married man with a new baby?

Will he ever have a chance to command a vessel again?

Anyone who has ever known self-doubt will find Hornblower's trauma realistic and refreshing. He becomes more like an ordinary person with normal feelings in this book. As a result, I found Hornblower to be much more appealing here than when his brilliant intellect guided him to smooth success in the earlier books.

Eventually, Hornblower finds himself wanting in many of these regards . . . but moves on. Ultimately, he faces new satisfactions and disappointments that indicate to him that his idealistic, perfectionist view of the world is a flawed one. Everyone else is merely human as well. Hornblower is deeply disappointed.

Forester raises an interesting point in the novel. There are real heroes in the book. These people are true to themselves and have total integrity. Public adulation will never be theirs, however. On the other hand, the world needs heroes . . . and new ones will be created, whether or not they deserve the honor. The possibility of remaining a real hero is improved by not having to deal with the issues that can tempt one away from heroism and integrity. So Bush is shown to be a real hero, while Hornblower is simply a self-doubting actor who is extraordinarily capable of creating great results.

The book does a magnificent job of using the title theme throughout. Having struck his colors on the Sutherland, Hornblower now flies his colors again in this book in every sense of that phrase. Watch for the subtleties of how this is done as you read the book.

If you know French, you will enjoy the challenge of imagining how Hornblower manufactures phrases from his limited command of the language to accomplish what needs to be done. As I read the book, I mentally made the necessary translations.

The book is also interesting for displaying the consequences for the French of being under Napoleon's rule. Hornblower excoriates the Corsican tyrant in the earlier novels, but here we see that others are being squashed underneath authority's boot as well. Many of the social observations about the French people in 1811 are very nicely done in this book.

What is more important: Being fearless or overcoming your weaknesses? What can you do today to overcome your weaknesses and help others to do the same?

May you enjoy the peace that comes with living a life of integrity!

As a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, I have a natural inclination towards nautical themes. I have fallen in love again with the Hornblower series. I just read them all back to back during the last year.

This book was very good, but I must admit it was my least favorite of the series. Very dark. The darkness of Forester's life at this time came through. And I felt the relationship with the Countess served little purpose in the book.

However, I felt that the book's military and nautical themes were very well done. Much like today's navy, Hornblower is engaged in a latorial warfare. His cunning and superb skills show through. One learns how he deals with his subordinate skippers, some good and some not so good.

As with the rest of the series, I will want my son to read about Hornblower, so as to learn duty, honor, sacrifice and the inward pains and costs of infidelity.

This Hornblower novel was a very good one. A lot of it is about politics on land just before and during the beginning stages of Napolean's invasion of Russia.

Hornblower has some new fangled weapons that he has never used before. Bomb ketches. He has two of them. What they really are is small vessels containing two 13 inch mortars each. The are ideal for bombarding with a plunging fire over walls and other obstacles. Incredibly accurate and very destructive. Hornblower has two occasions on which to use them. And, as might be expected, with great success.

Anyway, Hornblower is made commodore of a small squadron of ships, including Nonsuch captained by none other than his life long friend, Bush. He is set upon a mission to assist the Russians in the Baltic in any way in which he see fit. Perfect orders for someone that is willing to think outside the box.

Hornblower ends up sinking a French privateer. As can be expected, the French are outraged and invade the small country of Pomerania in defiance. This causes the Russions to become a little upset. Eventually, the French launch the invasion of Russia. The Russians are soundly beaten on all fronts except for the small port town of Riga. Hornblower is able to help with the defense of the town and it's approaches. He even leads an infantry assault into the French trench line.

This is another good book. Not a whole lot of naval action, but enough to keep the nautically minded interested. Lots of politics and history though. There is not a lot of information on the Baltic theatre of the war. Napolean was being attacked and beaten in the south by Wellington. For some unknown reason, Napolean thought that it would be a good time to attack Russia. His invasion started during the summer. They were in moscow by November. But Russia's ally, Old Man Winter, was waiting. He chased the French all the way back to Poland and beyond. During the withdrawal of the French, his allies were defecting left and right. First the Spanish and the Portugese. A few weeks later the Austriand and Germans, then the Prussians.

Well worth the read.

Commodore Hornblower was Forester's first attempt to replicate the pre-war success of his Horatio Hornblower trilogy; Beat to Quarters, Ship of the Line and Flying Colours. After emerging victorious from the greatest war in human history, would his readership still be interested in a more distant conflict? The answer was "Yes", but Forester made sure by including strong parallels between the Napoleonic Wars and World War II. The result, as a historical novel, was as relevant to the readers of the day as if it had been written about WWII. Commodore Hornblower works as a historical novel of the Napoleonic era and as a reminder of the immense struggles and sacrifices of WWII.

Commodore Hornblower begins with Hornblower leaving his new wife and son to return to sea. How poignant this passage must have been for the first post-war readers. Hornblower, now in charge of a small squadron, must take his ships into the Baltic past hostile Danes and Swedes who maintain a sinister neutrality. What follows is a series of naval and land engagements that are typical of this type of novel. However nobody surpassed Forester in telling exciting yet realistic action stories. The battle scenes are both exciting and exhilarating yet horrifying at the same time.

During his stint in the Baltic, Hornblower rubs shoulders with the Tsar of Russia, Marshal Bernadotte of Sweden and the warrior/philosopher Clausewitz. Hornblower must try and win over those hanging onto to neutrality by a thread and those siding with the tyrant Napoleon. As always he acquits himself well although he is his own worst critic.

While Commodore Hornblower works as both an action novel and a historical novel, I think that it might have lost some of the impact that it had when it was first published. The parallels for the British people in 1940 and 1812 are very strong. There is a tyrant dominating Europe who is both willing and able to throw away far more lives than the British could manage or accept. There is Russia siding with the tyrant, invading Finland and ultimately resisting the tyrant's invasion from the west. There is Europe ready for an uprising to overthrow the tyrant. And, of course, there is Britain standing alone against the might of the entire continent until forces can be rallied to defeat the tyrant. Commodore Hornblower is a story of heroism in the Napoleonic era but it was published at the right time to remind the British people of the heroism that they had so recently shown. It's a marvelous sequel and worthy successor to Forester's pre-war efforts.

I find it impossible to discuss this book without referring to the 1951 movie. The first 80 percent of the movie and the book are mostly similar. The endings are quite different. I slightly prefer the movie's improbable ending, although the endings of both have serious flaws.

Reading the first 80 percent of the book is a joy after having seen the movie. If you are like me, you will see and hear the movie in your mind as you read the book.

In the first 80 percent of the book, you will find more in the book than in the movie. C.S. Forester is able to tackle interesting themes in the book that were too delicate for Hollywood. Also, he employs an amazing mastery of the technical details in describing the African Queen's voyage down the Ulanga and Bora rivers into Lake Victoria. You will almost feel like you are reading science fiction from the time of H.G. Wells, as Allnut and Rose keep making something out of nothing.

To me, the best part of the book is that the contrasts between the "civilized" conventions and the "natural" instincts are drawn in extreme and fine detail. It will make you re-examine how you think about what is the right thing to do in your own life, which is what good literature should do.

To me, the weakness of the book is that the attitudes that The African Queen challenges are very far removed from our experience today. What was very scathing then now seems quaint. Somehow, the outrage behind the story is diffused into a dreamy period piece. Are there many women now of 33 who are so completely dominated by their brothers that they do not lead their own lives? Would many people today be inflamed by love of country to want to strike a personally fatal blow against the oppressor against all odds? Does the arrogance of colonialism seem believable, or just a silly notion to caricature?

Ultimately, Rose's instant rise from docile creature to Wonder Woman does seem to strain credibility. It's inspiring fun, though, like any book about brave heroines who are undaunted by the odds and convention.

After you read this book, think about where your assumptions about what you should be doing have not been re-examined by you in a while. What are you doing because someone else tells you it is a good idea? What should you be doing because you think it is a good idea?

Take the initiative to do the right thing with full speed ahead!

The lady has the will, and the cockney has the ingenuity. Between the two of them they conquer incredible obstacles.

Their great goal is to strike a blow for England in the war against Imperial Germany, but just as we might suppose, the efforts of two "very ordinary people" don't change the course of history. Nevertheless, it's an inspiring tale of courage, intelligence, and mutual respect. Each makes the other a better person.

Seen the movie, now read the book. This is an adventure tale about Charlie Allnutt and Rose Sayer set in WWI and was written by C.S.Forester in 1935. The book has been over shadowed by the 1951 film which starred Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. The book stands on its own as a classic and centres on the relationship between the unlikely match of Charlie and Rose with the war as a backdrop. Charlie is a gin loving engineer and Rose is a religious missionary who manages to convince Charlie to take his rickety old boat, The African Queen, down a treacherous river to destroy a German gunboat patrolling the lake at the end of the river. The inter play between the two characters is developed beautifully as they influence each other to form a formidable team. Forester may have meant it to be many things, but to me it is a great love story. Two people who shine in the presence of each other. The novel is relatively short and keeps the suspense and sense of adventure high throughout. The ending of the book turns out to be more realistic and poignant than the film and just by reading it you will appreciate the brilliance of Bogart and Hepburn even more.

I would put this chapter in the life of Horatio Hornblower in the same category as Mr. Midshipman Hornblower -- good, not great

The 5th book in the Hornblower saga concerns a number of events related to Horatio's first command as Captain -- a 22-gun sloop of war. But it doesn't get there right away. First, we get a rather slow segment of Horatio guiding a canal boat into London, then an even slower segment in which Horatio is put in command of Lord Nelson's funeral procession. Both segments are interesting historically but drag in the narrative -- a rare occurance for Forester.

Once we get out to sea, the story picks with Horatio's tour of duty in the Mediterranean trying to recover sunken English treasure. It reaches its pinnacle with the dramatic confrontation between Horatio and the Turks.

I'm not sure why this didn't grip me the way the other novels did. There are some very good things about it -- the interesting dynamic with a German prince stationed aboard the Atropos for example. But the story spend a lot of time wallowing in irons instead of the usual racing before the wind. Horatio's character is static -- his usual daring and courage subdued. And the ending is rather abruptly tacked on.

Still, I will recommend this book as a good part of the Hornblower saga. But it's far from the best.

Although the episodes in Hornblower and the Atropos are tied together with a modest connecting story line, each one could just as easily be an independent short story about Hornblower's experiences on his way to, during, and after his assignment as captain of the Atropos, the smallest three-master in His Majesty's fleet. What positively distinguishes these stories are fascinating details of some of the most advanced technologies in the Britain of 200 years ago. You will learn about the new fresh water canals and tunnels used then to speed shipments of people and fresh market goods, underwater demolition and salvage operations, coordinating naval battles through signaling, repairing ships on station, turning a ship without using the wind, treating gunshot wounds, and how to administer a very detailed operation without use of telephone, telegraph, or radio. The book is well worth reading just for these details.

The book's main disappointment for me is the absence of the redoubtable William Bush who plays such an important an interesting role as Hornblower's foil and partner in most of the novels. I missed Bush. I think you will, too.

As occurs increasingly in the books in the series, Hornblower comes into contact with famous people of the day. Hornblower's success with the Hotspur has won him friends in the Admiralty, and even higher places.

You will enjoy this book much more if you refer to the maps in the Hornblower Companion as you read this book.

Much of the appeal of the Hornblower series is involved in the naval engagements. While this book will make it seem like all of that is going to be missed here, just be patient.

One of the most interesting parts of this book comes when Hornblower uncharacteristically makes a rather large mistake, and has to face up to the fact that he may have no honorable way out. This situation reminds me of the Star Trek episode where Captain Kirk describes how he handled the insoluble problem provided to each cadet at Starfleet Academy. Yes, there is always a way out.

Be curious about all that is around you, and consider how it can be turned to new advantages . . . when you change your assumptions about what is most important!

The fourth novel in the Hornblower series takes it's time getting started, but once the action is engaged it doesn't let go. The story begins with Hornblower and his family travelling to London where Hornblower has been called to organize the funeral of the victor of Trafalgar, Admiral Nelson. After saving a near disaster to his career, Hornblower is ordered to search for sunken treasure off the Turkish coast. Along for the ride is a German prince and his aide who have a lot to learn about seamanship. And finally, Hornblower must make a choice about whether to accept the office of post Captain in a foreign navy or 'in spite of all temptations to belong to other nations, to remain an Englishman.' The novel really doesn't pick up until after Hornblower leaves England but it soon gains momentum and doesn't stop. C.S. Forester is truly one of the greatest writers of the 20th century and 'Hornblower and the Atropos' will attest to that.

C. S. Forester was one of the greatest storytellers of the 20th Century. His Horatio Hornblower novels are the best works in their genre. All of the Forester novels are easy to read and well crafted. Unfortunately, the time Forester spent writing Payment Deferred would have been better spent on another Hornblower novel. This is a mediocre work by a great author. It is only of interest to those of us who want to read everything written by C. S. Forester.

Payment deferred is a superbly written crime novel. The main charachter is well developed and the dark plot leads to the excellent final twist. Truely a milestone in crime fiction this book was unfortunatly overshadowed by Agatha Christie's 'Murder of Roger Ackroyd ' published the same year. In my opinion this book is second only to ' The general ' as forester's best work and shows that Hornblower is only a small part of the man's literary achievments.

While reading Hornblower is always refreshing, this final (chronological) installment of the series simply does not generate the excitement that crackles in the earlier works.

The arc of the Hornblower series begins with 'Beat to Quarters' and reaches its zenith with 'Commodore Hornblower.' For readers still giddy with the aftereffects of those books, 'Admiral Hornblower' may be a bit disappointing. More an epilogue than a coda, this book finds Horatio at his last post as commander-in-chief of His Majesty's squadron in the West Indies.

It may be that Forester simply had no exploits to offer on par with Horatio's earlier adventures. Without the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, one finds a distinct lack of urgency to this book. That said, it's worth noting the first adventure in 'Admiral Hornblower' brings back the old magic of the earlier books and manages to quicken the pulse.

Still, no first-time Hornblower reader could resist reading any installment. Nor should he. These are the greatest sea stories ever written; each one to be savored. Read, enjoy, and bid farewell to Admiral Lord Hornblower.

Like the first novel in the series, 'Mr. Midshipman Hornblower,' 'Admrial Hornblower in the West Indies,' is a collection of short stories rather than a single novel. And, like 'Mr. Midshipman,' it is one of the lower points in the series. 'Admiral Hornblower,' is the only Hornblower novel to take place during peacetime and so the action, where it is, seems a little forced. Lacking is the adventure of Hornblower braving the odds to meet an impossible objective. Instead, many of the stories focus on much more trivial aspects of Her Majesty's Navy. Of course this is still a Hornblower book by the master, C. S. Forester, and he doesn't leave the reader competely high and dry. The first story, by far the best, deals with Hornblower's attempt to intercept a French vessel bound for St. Helena. Hornblower must use all his cunning to stop the would-be liberators of Napoleon Bonoparte from his island prison. Also there are a some moving moments as Hornblower takes the time to relect on his brilliant career and years of service. A must read for fans of the series but certainly not Forester's best.

In this tenth book of the Hornblower series we find Admiral Horatio Hornblower struggling to impose order in the aftermath of the wars. Stationed in the West Indies he has to take on pirates, revolutionaries, a hurricane and deal with Frenchmen who don't plan to give up JUST yet! Will Hornblower be able to keep the peace as while as his honor?

Actually I think (and agree with other reviewers...) it is not as well documented as the Hornblower books, nevertheless it's a good read and a good writer keeps his touch even if the plot is unbelivable from start to finish...somewhere about the middle I thought I was reading a rerun of Bravo Two Zero or a SAS training manual...
More to the point I found annoying the silly inaccuracies (does anyone still can overlook the mention of a french horse dragoon wearing a BLUE coat?... any lover of the period knows they wore green), actually for a napoleonic buff is a mistake wich equals only the fictious explanation about why rookies in the French Armies are called "les bleus" (the Blues) and it is nothing to do with having blue faces for wearing stocks (in the neck), actually the old hands and veterans were used to wear white uniforms (the blue coats were introduced later and it was easy to notice a rookie for the color of his coat, you know how veterans stick to their old uniforms or pieces of them, disregarding paper regulations, and how old and new coexist in the same unit for long whiles...).
Will not be much apreciated in Portugal (as the earlier Sharpe's novels tends to forget the historic context and reality of the time of the action and Britons are usually described as some kind of Superheroes battling with the French (wich are always described as incompetents) with one hand while with the other they have to suport a coward population (wich historically in both cases Spain and Portugal did battle the French, waged a guerrilla war, did never surrender, and properly trained/equiped/commanded furnished Wellesley with fine Regiments wich helped rout the french and expelled them from the Peninsula). People tend to forget that the Spaniards themselves won the battle of Bailen (the first one to be lost by a French Imperial Army) ALONE. And even if the French had a very professional and BIG organised army they were not invincible (as proved by the brilliant performance of the english+allies, wich gave them a hell of a time again and again, of course...)

Death to the French is typical CS Forester - short, action packed and full of Frenchmen being killed. The main character, Dodd, is not quite in Hornblower's league, but is still a likeable enough lead, although he is not fleshed out to any degree. If you like Forester you will enjoy this book, although I doubt it will be a favourite.

I love this book probably because i served with the Royal Green Jackets in the British Army which are the desendants of the 95th Rifles.
It is very well written and i felt I was right there along with Dodd trying to get back to the British lines.

I wish i had read this book as a young Rifleman in my training i think it would have made me a better squadie.
I recomend this book to every young infantryman.
Its a must read.

It's hard to write a review of a Horatio Hornblower book that is less than superlative. But I must in this case.

Hornblower during the Crisis is probably only of interest to Hornblower fanatics. It is the incomplete (and unedited) beginning of a story Forester was writing when he died -- matched up with two short stories about Hornblower.

None of these stories are very good. I'll avoid revealing plot details as all three hinge on unlikely and rather obvious plot twists. The main story, which tells of the events between Hornblower leaving the Hotspur and the Battle of Trafalgar, drags a bit and stops right when it was going to get interesting. The next tells of an event in Horatio's early history -- an unpleasant one that seems to contradict his character. The last is an encounter near the end of his career and is rather amusing but not exciting in the least.

Again, this book might be worth buying if you are interested in completing a collection (although, even then, the price is ridiculous). But casual readers should steer a course to the other ten novels.

This book is unfinished by the author. The basis of the story is quite compelling. If it was finished, it would be a great link in the Hornblower chain of books. However, it was a dissapointment to have to guess on how the story would twist and turn leading to the battle of Trafalgar. At the least, I believe that the publisher should discount the price on this volume. However, avid followers of Hornblower must read this to follow along Hornblower's life.

I have read the first, numbered half of the Hornblower Saga (from "Midshipman" up to "Beat to Quarters"), and I very much enjoy the series. I like Hornblower's ability to meticulously plan, the human way in which he is so self-critical (something all people probably can relate to), and his ability to unerringly know the right moment to take a risk in order to enhance the fruits of his careful planning.

However, I was reluctant to pay full price for something that was, essentially, half a novel. And so it was with mixed feelings that I purchased "Hornblower During The Crisis."

I was pleasantly surprised.

I just finished reading the book, and I can say that I did not feel at all cheated out of my money.

It would have been pleasant to have actually read the rest of the story, instead of reading a synopsis that describes its ending, but all the elements from the other Hornblower books are here: and, ultimately, it did not leave me with the feeling that I'd read an incomplete thing.

If other Amazon shoppers are considering buying this book, but have the same concerns I had, I feel comfortable in telling them that they probably won't regret the purchase.