Hornblower During the Crisis (Hornblower Saga (Paperback))

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 the store 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.

This unfinished book takes place immediately after the conclusion of "Hornblower and the Hotspur" right after Hornblower received his promotion to post-captain. As usual the story was interesting and showed what an interesting character that he is. Unfortunately, the book is very incomplete due to the author's death. The author did write a paragraph explaining how the book would end; it would have been great reading I'm sure.

This book also contained two short stories. The first is called "Hornblower's Temptation" and it occurs prior to the time he meets Lt. Bush and involves an interesting experience with a traitor. The second short story is called "The Last Encounter" and takes place when Hornblower is an admiral toward the end of his career and explains an encounter with an interesting individual.

This book is recommended for Hornblower fans that have been through the first three books. It is not to be read independently since it really is an incomplete novel.

I always worry that the final, unfinished, work of a great author will be a disappointment. This one is not. The first part shows how the author worked, completing a final chapter before moving on, unlike many authors. So the pieces we get are complete and satisfying.

But most importantly, in my mind, is the wonderful last chapter. This is how a series should end. After reading all but one of the series, I care about the characters. I want to know how they ended up. Call me a softy, but I wanted Horatio and Lady Barbara to "live happily ever after". Forester gives considerable space to Horatio's thoughts about his happiness in "The Last Encounter" and does it in keeping with his established Hornblower series style. I am grateful that Forester left us with this final story of Hornblower.

Like all the Hornblower books we see our hero in many unconfortable positions, from the Court Martial of his successor to finding himself a junior officer in a battle situation after years of command. Unlike the other Hornblower books we are left with an incomplete story. It seems to me that this drop doesn't change a thing.
Most people who read Hornblower will know their Navel History and will be able to put the pieces together, (on more than one occasion Forester talks about Hornblower's fellow captians putting the pieces together from a brief statement in a report.) and the reader can do it without problem.
The two short stories that follow are both of high quality. (I was very disapointed that we didn't see the story of Barry McCool in the lastest Hornblower movie.) His encounter with McCool and with Napoleon III were both well written and interesting.
Unless you are reading the series in chronological order (don't forget to read the McCool story AFTER Midshipman Hornblower then put it away till you finish Hornlober and the Hotspur) this book should probally be read last. I wouldn't buy this book first, but I wouldn't recommend missing it either.

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 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.

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 was the novel Forester was working on when he died in 1966. Only about a third of it was finished, but what is here is still well worth reading if you are a Hornblower fan. Like "Flying Colours" most of this novel would have taken place on land behind enemy lines, and like Flying Colours it would have been one of the best in the series. Too bad that Forester did not live to finish it.

The Back Bay paperback edition comes with two very brief short stories, one set when he was on the Renown and the other set in 1848, after he had retired. They are both good.

'Hornblower During the Crisis', is the 4th of the chronological series of Horatio Hornblower's career in the Royal Navy. CS Foresters was unable to complete this book, but there are a few author notes about how the book would end and two interesting short stories at the end of of the 100 pages of 'Hornblower During the Crisis'. I would recommend reading the first short story after 'Mr. Midshipman', and the last short story after you completed the 11 book series.
Of course the writing, and continued story line of Horatio Hornblower is superb even with it being a partial book and story. But, I was not particularly happy that this partiallly completed book of 100 pages cost the same as any other book in the series. I give the rating of 2 stars only due to this fact.
Otherwise, I will still continue to look forward to reading the next in the series. I am very much addicted to the story line!

Forester sets the scene for a Hornblower story with a difference - here Forester brings to our attention the intriguing shadowlands where, even in an era where appearances and honour trumped realpolitik, there was considerable covert activity to manipulate and distort the enemy's perceptions of reality.

It would have been fascinating to see how the author had his central character, with his narrow, circumscribed upbringing and professional development, cope with a journey into these shadows.

I set about trying to find whether any credible efforts had been made by others to complete the book, and had little success seaching the www, until a chance remark came up with paydirt. A Scottish historian, R W Smith (Bob) has written a creditable ending, published by the C S Forester Society. He demonstrates a deep understanding of how challenged and unsettled a character like Horatio H might have become when required to sustain behaviours and actions which were dishonest or dishonourable. This isn't the place to review this other work, which goes considerably further than I have already suggested, but I do commend it to your attention.

"During the Crisis" features three novellas by C.S. Forester. The first, best and the only incomplete novella is the first which occurs after "Hornblower and the Hotspur". The second occurs sometime after Mr. Midshipman and Lieutenant Hornblower. The third, I think (I have not completed the entire series yet) should be one of the last things read about HH. I don't know how Forester intended on introducing these three well written, but very chronologically disjointed pieces into the life of HH, but it would seem that his estate put together his remaining notes about HH and published it under the title "During the Crisis". My suggestion to anyone who is reading the Hornblower series for the first time is to pick this book up and read the sections after you have read the books in the order I have mentioned them. Reading this before I read Lieutenant Hornblower would have been enlightening.

Sadly incomplete due to Forester's death, this one could have shaped to be among the best of the series. We get a snippet of a rip-roaring sea battle, another glimpse into Hornblower's early married life, and the promise that he would be up to some rather interesting espionage maneuvers in France. Satisfying for what it is, but, obviously, there's not much of it.

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.

There is not one false note anywhere. We encounters some of the finest characters: Commander Meadows who replaces Hornblower as captain of the Hotspur; Captain Baddlestone of the water hoy; Mr. Marsden, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; Mr. Barrow, the Second Secretary, 'his name nearly as well known as Marsden's'; and last but not least, the Rev. Claudius, Doctor of Divinity, my favourite.
The scene that takes place in the elegant room in the Admiralty overlooking the Horse Guards parade grounds is scripted like a play. The dialogue is superb and Forester even provided stage instructions in the form of thunderclaps from a summer afternoon's downpour. Hornblower, under scrutiny from the two cynical secretaries, learns to keep his mouth shut at the critical moment and finally gains entry to post rank.

This is the next Hornblower chronologically, it was not the next 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.

While it is nice to see more of Forester's storyline in writing, I could have done without this book. The beginning does take off where "Hotspur" left off, but it was very aggrivating when the story concluded with brief notes about how the author intended the ending to be The short stories in the end appeared to just be thrown in for the sake of filling up pages. I would have liked it better had the book been seperate from the rest of the series. I am baffled why the publisher would make this the fourth book when it contains a short story that takes place when Hornblower is already and Admiral. If you bu the book, just read the first short story that starts after Hornblower leave Hotspur and save the rest for later.

like most of the reviews the book is unfinished, which I thought was unfortunate. i really love reading about HH. i find his thoughts and thought process intriguing and his outlook on others who are involved in his life. CS Forester really gives you a feel for this charactor and puts you in his mind.
"Hornblower During the Crisis" is only 117 pages. i enjoyed it and have read all of the novels up threw "Crisis". im reading in chronological order. so i was dissapointed for it to end so quick. it is your typical HH novel, he starts out sailing and then the frogs show up, HH comes up with an idea and ofcoures it works out for the better. ends up in england with some important papers from boney. he gets promoted to captain only if he goes on a spy mission he came up with, that is where the book ends. a shame, i really wanted to see HH as a spy.
"Hornblowers Temptation" - is the first short story. it comes after "Midshipmen Hornblower" although one review said it came after "Lieutentant Hornblower", the reason is because Mr.Bush is not on board and captian sawyer is still alive. good short story, i agree with some reviews that the character is not like the HH we know. he does things for his own conscious , and not for king, for county. also this mentions that they have gone to the west indies, but in "Lieutentaunt HH", he remarks to Bush how he has never seen some sort of fish which are only in the west indies. good short story, if u like HH series then you will like this, although we are not use to this softer side of Horry.
"The Last Encounter" - this makes no sense with the HH books. his wifes is named Barbara, who he loves and can't keep his eyes off of, his only child is named Richard and he likes wine or "port" as they call it. never the less is was an ok read. i think forester wrote this just for fun. the story is about a man who comes to the door and says he someone famous and dead. HH is like whatever, but helps him anyway. not bad, i didn't really like it because it didn't hold true to Maria and his 2 kids.
this is a decent book, i wish it was finished, it really leaves you dangling. the only regret is the price $15, which are the prices for completed books. we should pay half this since we are getting half a story.

I usually stick to more mainstream historical fiction like "The Triumph and the Glory" but Forester IS Forester so I always find time to read his magnificent Hornblower books. Hornblower During the Crisis isn't the best of the lot, but it is still very good indeed.

What one has to keep in mind while reading Hornblower novels is that they were not written in order. I think the first one was lt. Hornblower. If you keep this in mind and overlook certain inconsitencies in the plot, all of his novels gives you a very good read. He also wrote an account of his travels in South America , that unfortunatly i only read once ( in the public library i Southampton, UK in the late sixties) I wish sombody would republish it as it gives a very good insight in the time and frame of mind of C.S Forrester when he wrote these books. One can certenly see connection to Webers Honor Harrington series. (HH+HH = true). If you like one you will certainly like the other... Fred