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Title: Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. Forester ISBN: 0-316-28912-4 Publisher: Back Bay Books Pub. Date: 30 September, 1984 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.55 (58 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: 3.5 stars -- a nice beginning
Comment: As the chronological beginning of C.S. Forester's epic Horatio Hornblower saga, Mr. Midshipman is reasonably good. It is a collection of ten stories following Hornblower from the first moment he steps on board a ship (and promptly gets seasick) to his early triumphs that bring him to the brink of promotion. In this novel, we begin to see the characteristics that will turn Hornblower into the one of the most compelling figures in literature -- courage and daring, yes -- but also self-doubt, introspection and his overwhelming sense of honor and duty. We see the boy that will become a great man.
The only reason it does not get more stars is the episodic nature of the work. It took me a while to warm to the character and get an idea of what was going on. Granted, some of this is deliberate, as Hornblower is often enigmatic. Also, as in most of the novels of the series, the naval terms and history were often poorly explained, forcing me to bone up on the history of the Napoleonic wars and the Royal Navy. Of course, that's a *bonus* is you're a history buff like me. For other readers, it might be a little frustrating. But it is by no means a dramatic flaw.
As a stand-alone novel, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower is good. As the beginning of the epic Hornblower series, however, it is a must-read and will only whet your appetite for the outstanding novels to come.
Rating: 4
Summary: Great Sea Story.... (4.5 stars)
Comment: ...When I was younger, I read a few of the Hornblower books and decided to shelve the series until I had them all.
As other readers have indicated, this book is not the first written. However it is the first in chronological order of Hornblower himself.
All that said, this was a really good book. The first night, I read over 100 pages without stopping. It's really not a flowing story as much as a collection of short stories about the life of a particular midshipman in 1794.
He is first stationed on a Line of Battle ship. CS doesn't really describe the ship much, but by what the surroundings seem to be like and the number of officers, I'd say she is a two decker of 74 guns or so. On this ship his life is one of misery until he gets a fair shake from the captain.
On he goes to a frigate and the real adventures begin. Enough said, I don't like to tell the story. You can read it.
This is a good book. Easy to read. Each chapter is 20 - 30 pages and tells an entire short story. They are unconnected stories(other than the characters and the ship).... They can be read individally.
I look forward to finishing the entire series. I too have the companion book. This is a good tool to help the reader keep up with the actual locations of the stories and some of the history surrounding this period in time.
Rating: 5
Summary: Mr. Midshipman Hornblower Five Stars
Comment: Imagine being sent away from your family and the way of life you have known, to be put in charge of men twice your age. This is what happens to young Horatio Hornblower. For his own good and the good of England he is sent to serve on a frigate fighting France. Throughout the book, Hornblower has to achieve feats of skill such as sailing his own ship, leading cutting out expeditions on enemy fortresses, following strict Naval discipline and all the while trying to gain the respect of men twice his experience and experience. When reading Mr. Midshipman Hornblower you learn to feel for young Horatio. He is like a graceful and intelligent swan that has to glide across a rocky and uncertain lake. Through his successes you feel success, through his defeats you feel defeated. Teenagers learn how lucky they are that they did not live at the turn of the eighteenth century in England. C. S. Forester weaves a tale of daring, suspense, adventure and loyalty all through the eyes of a young man trying to work his way through the discipline of the Navy. Every success, victory or accomplishment Hornblower achieves make you feel like you have achieved something as well! This is a truly suspenseful piece of literature.
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Title: Hornblower and the Hotspur by C.S. Forester ISBN: 0316290467 Publisher: Back Bay Books Pub. Date: 01 November, 1998 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Hornblower During the Crisis by C.S. Forester ISBN: 0316289442 Publisher: Back Bay Books Pub. Date: 18 April, 1990 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Beat to Quarters by C.S. Forester ISBN: 0316289329 Publisher: Back Bay Books Pub. Date: 30 September, 1985 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Hornblower and the Atropos by C.S. Forester ISBN: 0316289299 Publisher: Back Bay Books Pub. Date: 30 April, 1985 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: Ship of the Line by C.S. Forester ISBN: 0316289361 Publisher: Back Bay Books Pub. Date: 30 September, 1985 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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