Review:The first third of the book contains some of Roddy Doyle's best writing, but as the main character grows up the events portrayed become ever more fantastical. My interest in Roddy Doyle stems from his ability to portray the harsh realities of daily life in modern Ireland with a touch of humour but by creating a 'mythical hero' in this novel I find that I cannot believe the story as representing life in Ireland at the beginning of the 20th century. As the novel does not work for me as a fanta... Read more

Review:The usual outstanding Forrester writing, but in this one, he inserts a preposterous episode where the always observant Hornblower, notices that a man who hates the Russians is secretly bringing a pistol to a meeting where the Czar will be present. He does NOTHING about it until it suddenly occurs to him that an assassination is being planned!! And then, in the typical B level Hollywood movie tradition, he rushes in to, once again, single handedly save the day. Ugh!

The good news is tha... Read more

Review:There appeared to be some disconnects in the novel. Most likely due to the issue of several separate stories in one novel. But the disconnects were more from a miltary technical and logic and development of the tale aspect. The Coronet player said he couldn't play a B flat... Why? that was never developed. The Coronet player in a Hornblower novel... how many folks overlooked that? Neat tongue in cheek.... I still found this a good read and worth the purchase. Read more

Review:Of my growing list of Hornblower-books-read I found this to be most helpful in seeing how the gallant Hornblower found his way into the British Navy (he was apparently gang-pressed, but as a midshipman). This book is pretty much a compendium of short stories that light the way by which we know this wonderful character. We see him when he comes aboard and promptly gets seasick, but then how he rises to many occasions of dealing with the seas or his enemies. Forester is a wonderful writer and t... Read more

Review:This purchase was a Christmas gift. I ordered it late in the week and was actually expecting it after the holiday, but to my delight it turned up Christmas Eve. Talk about perfect! Also got a very nice personalized email from the owner. Would definitely do business with them again. Excellent experience. Read more

Review:There appeared to be some disconnects in the novel. Most likely due to the issue of several separate stories in one novel. But the disconnects were more from a miltary technical and logic and development of the tale aspect. The Coronet player said he couldn't play a B flat... Why? that was never developed. The Coronet player in a Hornblower novel... how many folks overlooked that? Neat tongue in cheek.... I still found this a good read and worth the purchase. Read more

Review:I had been deterred from the Hornblower series because it came out in the 1950s and 1960s and, frankly, because of the cheesy name. I was totally wrong. Hornblower is the most complex character created for the age of sail, the descriptions are mor accurate than those in other series, the style of writing is much better and the plots much more credible. If you want to go on a voyage in the great age of sail, you couldn't find a better captain than Hornblower. Read more

Review:This purchase was a Christmas gift. I ordered it late in the week and was actually expecting it after the holiday, but to my delight it turned up Christmas Eve. Talk about perfect! Also got a very nice personalized email from the owner. Would definitely do business with them again. Excellent experience. Read more

Review:The usual outstanding Forrester writing, but in this one, he inserts a preposterous episode where the always observant Hornblower, notices that a man who hates the Russians is secretly bringing a pistol to a meeting where the Czar will be present. He does NOTHING about it until it suddenly occurs to him that an assassination is being planned!! And then, in the typical B level Hollywood movie tradition, he rushes in to, once again, single handedly save the day. Ugh!

The good news is tha... Read more

Review:I had been deterred from the Hornblower series because it came out in the 1950s and 1960s and, frankly, because of the cheesy name. I was totally wrong. Hornblower is the most complex character created for the age of sail, the descriptions are mor accurate than those in other series, the style of writing is much better and the plots much more credible. If you want to go on a voyage in the great age of sail, you couldn't find a better captain than Hornblower. Read more