Lieutenant Hornblower (A Horatio Hornblower Tale of the Sea)

I am reading the Hornblower series for the third time, and loving it! Strangely, two of the volumes are not available on Kindle. I read the series as a boy and love to go back to it. I just found out that CS Forrester lived in Berkeley and is buried in Orange County California.

This book is a bit of Second World War propaganda from the British Navy but it is the best example I have every read of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. An excellent book on leadership and teamwork.

This series is, for me, stronger when Hornblower is a young officer learning his craft and developing his skill base. This was a book I enjoyed and which prompted me to continue with the series to the end.

An interesting naval concept, and probably quite true as to how the British would take on an Italian Squadron of Battleships and Heavy Cruiser.The Italian Navy had great ships, but were reluctant to do battle.

Volumes I through XII get the same top notch review. I'm a retired Navy man who likes a good "sea story." Weave these stories into the history of the British Navy during the Napoleanic Era and the books become that much better. C. S. Forester is every bit as good a story teller as his reputation states.

I could not find 3 of the volumes on Kindle. I had to buy paperback.

Mr. Forester does a masterful job at describing life on board His Majesty's Naval ships. He sets his fictitious tale within a historical context, the battle for the eastern Mediterranean while fighting the might of the Axis powers during the second World War. Within that framework he packs is story with some very believable characters; and to my great delight none of these characters exhibit predictable traits throughout the drama of battle on the high seas. Each and every character, some most unlikely, display courage, determinism and initiative in the struggle for not only survival, but with the greater scheme for maintaining control of the Mediterranean. His characters are heroic and we can empathize with them, including those on the other side. Fast paced action with a good deal of reflection. Couldn't keep my Kindle charged up fast enough to complete reading it. I will definitley read other stories by him.
Case in point, I can see Forester's infliuence in John Clancy's military books.

I have been reading Patrick O'brian ever since my grandfather gave me my first Hornblower book for my 12th birthday. In my opinion Lt Hornblower is the best of the series because it allows the reader to see the hero from a different perspective, namely through the eyes of the indomitable Bush. It helps the reader to understand why Hornblower is revered by both men and officers alike.

In addition it has all we hope to find in a book based during the Napoleonic wars: action, daring, bravery, and the ingenuity that was so much a part of the age of sail.

As a combat veteran, Army Field Artillery, that has had to rely heavily on the Navy for support, both in supply and fire power, I would give them two, maybe two and a half stars at best. I've always pictured sailors and seamen as rowdy drunks when ashore, causing all the nice places to be Off Limits to us real

group if by some miracle we ever did get a chance to go to town and sample the local civilization. They never had muddy boots, grass and mudstained sweaty fatigues, smelled like swamp water,creosote and DEET, nor were they covered with mosquito, chigger and sandflea welts. They never lacked trade goods, which were most likely pilfered from the supplies meant for the Army anyway. They always got three hot squares a day, while us real troops got them on infrequent occasions. Seems like their supporting fires were usually out of range when asked for or the target didn't merit having to clean their guns afterwards. I would continue but you have the concept by now. C. S. Forester has been able to give me a different perspective about the Navy and her people. Maybe they earned their keep after all. I wonder if he has written one about the Air Force? I really have some strong opinions about those guys.

Just a very fine book with colourful characters, intrigue and far more nail-biting than a book in common memory. Forester has created a hero we can all identify with. We can see and feel his fears, and in the throughs of his heroics, we can feel his pain and watch his dreams ebb and flow. A wonderful book, a great story and a friend named Horatio.

A realistic look at what took place on convoy escorts during WWII. Included insteresting insights into the officers and men who sailed those ships and the sacrifices they made. All of this woven into a suspenseful sea tale.