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Summary: Hornblower's Career Takes Off
Review: There is one word that best describes the Hornblower novels: Adventure! And 'Lieutenant Hornblower' is no exception. Indeed this is the novel where Hornblower's career in the Royal Navy really begins. From dealing with a half mad Captain to fighting off a Spanish attack on the decks of his ship this is one of the best of the Hornblower novels.
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Summary: An interesting perspective on Hornblower
Review: This book in the Hornblower series gives us the opportunity to observe Lieutenant Hornblower through the eyes of Lieutenant William Bush. Bush's perspective on Hornblower allows us to see some of why Hornblower is so able to advance in his naval career. Horblower's "moral and physical courage" make him attractive to his fellow naval officers and most likely this is what attracts the reader to Hornblower as well. Throughout the book we see Hornblower's courageous initiative mingled with his great respect for authority. He always knows just what to say to his commanding officers to move them in the right direction and he knows just how to say it so as not to usurp their authority or show disrespect. In the closing chapters we are also able to see that Hornblower is not simply a risk-taker when engaged in naval battle, but it is a part of his character in all situations and he always faces those risks with courage.I have now read Mr. Midshipman Hornblower and Lieutenant Hornblower - next up, Hornblower and the Hotspur. If you have seen the A&E video series based on this book, you will find that there is quite a difference in the ending. I found the mutiny resolution to be much more satisfactory in the book.
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Summary: Adventure, leadership, and hard luck! This book rocks!!
Review: This is the story of Hornblower as the junior lieutenant aboard HMS Renown, a British Ship of the Line. This one is probably tied in my mind with "Beat to Quarters" as the best Hornblower novel. The Horatio Hornblower series by C.S. Forester is, quite simply, the best in naval adventure literature. In this novel, the Renown is dispatched to the West Indies on a secret mission. The captain becomes incapacitated, and the ship's second in command is nowhere near up to the job of captaining the Renown. Hornblower's intelligence and leadership ability must overcome the fact that he is a junior officer who must at all times be deferential to his superiors. And yet only Hornblower has a clear idea as to how the Renown might accomplish its mission. How he handles his superior officers under these circumstances is a wonderful study in character and leadership. This is a novel about leadership, and how Hornblower, an emerging leader, deals with a series of crises. This book starts at a sprint and before it is done it breaks the sound barrier--the action never stops, and yet somehow in this novel there is time for analysis and introspection also. Forester's writing is fast-paced, his storyline never dawdles or drags. This is one you'll want in hardbound form. I have one in near-mint condition, and another beat-up copy that I read every year or so! (That way my nice copy stays nice. I just can't imagine not being able to read this novel whenever I want to!) This one is a keeper.
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Summary: A Bush's eye view of Hornblower
Review: Unique in the Hornblower series we see the story written from the perspective of Lieutenant Bush who begins as his superior officer and finishes as his junior (maybe?) It is a well written book which gives a better perspective to both characters. As always a ripping and accurate yarn of the sea and the times. Strangely it sufferes in comparison to the latest of the Hornblower series from A&E simply since the Characters of Hobbs and Captian Sawyer are fleshed out in the series but not in this book as much. Since the book is written in the eyes of Bush this could not be helped but it is a minor point. As always we see resourcefullness , action and of course Whist. A great book from a great series. It's worth the money.
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Summary: Lieutenant Hornblower (1954)
Review: Unlike all the others, this story is seen through Bush's eyes. The trick only partially works for me. The first part seems to copy the Mutiny on the Bounty, and it drags on until the ship reaches Haiti. However the last three chapters present the best single Horatio Hornblower episode ever. During the Peace of Amiens, HH is reduced to playing whilst in the Long Rooms for his living. His landlady, Mrs. Mason, is after him for his overdue rent. Mrs. Mason's daughter, Maria, on the pretext of cleaning his coat, slips a half-crown into HH's coat. When HH reaches into his pocket-the man who fires the broadsides that freed the Renown from the mud; who storms the Spanish fort; and who recaptures the Renown from the prisoners - he blanches. After HH wins big at whilst that night, he tells Bush that he wishes the money had come a day earlier. Before shipping out again, he repays the 2s. 6d. by marrying Maria even though he knows he is making a mistake. The last sentence of the novel sums up their relationship succinctly. 'And already there was something a little proprietorial about the adoration, and perhaps there was something wistful about the kindness.'
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Summary: Aarrrrr Mate!
Review: While reading 'Lt. Hornblower' It was enjoyable to experience the strong imagery of the white puffed sails contrasting the wave's of a blue ocean while the stretched rigging lines scream of tension to capture the trade winds. I could close my eyes and imagine standing on the quarterdeck of these great wooden walled ships that crack and groan from the ocean's waves which relentlessly attempt to pull the ship to the bottom of the ocean. EUREKA! Then the suspenseful action packed fun begins. From amphibious invasions to mutiny along with the further character development of Horatia Hornblower encouraged me to rate this book with 5 stars! More importantly there is a slight angle of a life lesson embedded within the story. 'You don't know how much you love something until you lose it'...
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Summary: Action Filled
Review: Wonderful book. Between the introduction, where we see Hornblower, with the Lts Bush and Buckland, suffering under the already half-mad Captain Sawyer, to planned revolt, to various successful and unsuccessful Navel actions, to Hornblower's and Bush's near-poverty under the peace, and finally, to Hornblower's confirmation of promotion to Commander at the renewal of war, we see all aspects of the key characters in full color, in fact, I myself nearly gave a shout of joy when Hornblower recieved the letter confirming his promotion. Worth reading and rereading.
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Summary: Captivating and well performed!
Review: Young Mr. Gruffudd makes a marvelous performance and his well trained acting abilities pour through with astounding affect! He slides easily in and out of characters and accents. There's never a break to make one lose the feel and atmosphere of the story. And, he delivers the story surely as real as C.S. Forester could have dreamed it! One need only to close ones eyes and be taken back into the days of Horatio Hornblower!
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