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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9780316289443
ISBN number: 0316289442
Label: Back Bay Books
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 176
Printing Date: April 18, 1990
Publishing house: Back Bay Books
Sale Popularity Level: 29898
Studio: Back Bay Books
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
This last-written adventure of Horatio Hornblower finds him still a captain; the Napoleonic Wars rage on. Though the tale was incomplete at Forester's death, it offers a full measure of action at sea.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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There are three rather short stories in this book. The back cover describes the book as following "Hornblower and the Hotspur," and the unfinished very first story does, so you probably shouldn't read this book before reading "Hotspur." But the subsequent story is set between "Midshipman Hornblower" and "Lieutenant Hornblower," and the third story is set at the end of the entire series. You don't need to read the whole series first, but the last story won't make sense unless you at least read "Beat to Quarters" first. And nothing in this compilation is necessary for understanding other books. So you shouldn't read it in the sequence listed on the cover, and you may as well save it for last. That said, all three stories are worth reading.
As you know, the main story was unfinished, which is fine. It's an ambitious tale of how an out-of-work commander saves Britain from invasion and deals the French tyrant a mortal blow through luck, skill, luck, cleverness, luck, and derring-do. It ends about halfway through the story, with about a page of notes about how it ends. The half that's finished is entertaining, but does rely a lot on luck. I have trouble imagining the second half being written without relying too much on luck. It's great the way it is.
The subsequent story explores the young Hornblower's character as he must guard a devious prisoner and face financial and professional temptation. The last story shows the peaceful life of an old, successful, wealthy, respected, contented Hornblower interrupted by an entertaining echo of his old enemy.
All told, it's a fun, easy-to-read book for Hornblower fans. But there's nothing wrong with saving it for the end of the series.
Rated by buyers 
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I give this book two stars, but in no way am I implying that C.S. Forester deserves two stars for his work. Rather, I give the publisher of the book two stars for giving us half a novel but presenting it as a full entry in the Hornblower saga. I was looking forward to another great Hornblower novel, but found instead the beginnings of a promising story and a few short stories. The whole edition is much shorter than the other Hornblower novels, but costs the same price. I would recommend skipping this book until you have really exhausted the other Hornblower novels already.
Rated by buyers -
This is the subsequent Hornblower chronologically, it was not the subsequent one written. Now that the series is completed it makes sense to read it as Hornblower's career progresses in the Royal Navy.
The whole series is a pleasure to read full of action and adventure; with enough time for a little romance.
Get acquainted with one of the most popular characters in modern literature.
After reading this you will be back for more. And that is a wonderful thing.
Rated by buyers 
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This novel picks up with Hornblower relinquishing command of the Hotspur and returning to London for a new command. As typical in a Forester novel, nothing ever goes as planned and action follows Hornblower on his way home from a supply ship. There are only about 150 pages of text in this story and what was missing in the story were what Hornblower did that lead to the eventual decisive Battle of Trafalgar. It was nice to see what Forester wrote anyway only because I like the genre and I like Forester's details and descriptions of being in the Service and living during that time. But this book wouldn't be good on its own.
Rated by buyers 
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Hornblower During the Crisis is apparently a couple of pieces of left over script that Forester hadn't finished when he died, and was later published. The very first half deals with Hornblower's trip home to England as a passenger on a water hoy (a supply ship that brings water to ships of the line). The water how is such a dog that after several days of beating back and forth they are still where they began. When they finally do get a fair wind they are chased by a larger French brig and only by some of Hornblower's usual trickery and bravado do they turn the tables and escape. The battle is a little too unbelievable for me; it relies too much no surprise and a sleeping French crew, which I found beyond the realm of possible. Nevertheless our hero returns safely to England.
The second part of the book is another short story about how Hornblower was assigned to be some kind of spy in Spain to deliver fake messages ordering the Spanish fleet out to sea. It's more plausible, but a short story.
Despite its shortcomings, the detail of ships and sailing in the early 19th century make the Hornblower series must reading for any man who loves the sea.
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