Rating: 
Summary: Another excellent and exciting Hornblower adventure.
Review: I am very much enjoying this series of novels, they are difficult to put down. The scenes and the actions described seem so very real inside my head as I read.
Rating: 
Summary: The heart cut out of a great story.
Review: I love every volume in the Hornblower series, and purchasedthis audio edition in a bookstore with the anticipation of enjoyingthem again driving around in the car. The audio cassette was well produced and very well read. It was with growing shock, however, that I realized that the parts I loved most had been cut out of this edition: the bare bones of the action remained, but the heart and soul of Hornblower had been snipped away. ...I encourage everyone to read Hornblower: these books have enriched my life and brought me hours of joy. But I would avoid these audio editions.
Rating: 
Summary: The best volume of the series
Review: I love the Hornblower Books and I love the Character. But of all the Hornblower books this one is my favorite. We see our hero in the most frightning challenge of his life and he fails. He is unable to back out of a marriage that he doen't really want, but then decides that since he's doing it he will go all out. We see the newly subordinate Bush becoming even more impressed with his former junior. Bush's ability to not object to this dramatic change is the only part of the novel that stretches credulity a bit, however since Hornblower saved his life in the last one a mittagating factor exists. We see very little ship to ship combat, (after all Hotspur is a tiny ship.) but once again Characters steal the show. From his gentleman's gentleman that he doesn't want, to the french fishing boat captains to the various officers he encounters all make the novel richer and richer. If the new movies are done in chronological order this should be the next book adapted. I wait with baited breath.
Rating:
Summary: Everything that I expected and more....
Review: I read several of the Hornblower books years ago. At that time, I vowed to acquire them all and start from the beginning (in chronological order). This is a great series! I just finished this, the third in the series. Hornblower is becoming quite experienced in ship handling. Bush, who was introduced in the previous book, is now is first lieutenant. Hornblower has been promoted to commander, one step below post captain, and given command of a sloop-of-war of 18 guns. He becomes a vital part of the Inshore Squadron during the blockade of Brest. C.S. does a wonderful job of describing the situations. Points of interest in this book: Hornblower get married and has a son, Hornblower is involved in shore excursions on enemy shores, Hornblower is involved with the taking of the Spanish treasure fleet, Hornblower fights a duel between his sloop (18) and a heavy French frigate (44). There is one nagging point that I have. C.S. spends a lot of time letting the reader know about Hornblowers thoughts. It's especially bad when Hornblower has self doubts. But, once you get used to this style, the book flows quickly. The conclusion of the book is quite sudden and is left wide open for the series to continue. I hope to see Bush and Hornblower together again. Maybe he will even reacquire his steward, Doughty. Good book!
Rating:
Summary: Another excellent and exciting Hornblower adventure.
Review: If you enjoy pre-20th century historical fiction and have a passion for nautical themes, then you will enjoy this 3rd book of Forester's Hornblower series. This series is not written as an epic novel involving a multitude of characters, political angles, or unrelated background events. This series has focused upon the events of Horatio Hornblower ONLY, which I personally enjoy the simplicity yet very entertaining story line. Some advice to readers with minimal knowledge of nautical terminology though, you will be visually lost and not grasp the understandings of the of the tactical ship's situation unless you have a 'Sailing fundamentals or Sailing terminology' book to accompany the books. 'Hornblower and the Hotspur' contains the continued character development and life of Horatio Hornblower. He is given his first official command of a sloop of war and begins to encounter a number of challenges with his newly desired responsibilities. He begins to learn the political life and struggles of being a captain while being torn with his own personal beliefs. Also, Horatio passively allows himself to become married without truly wishing to marry his bride and learns that life at sea is often much more rewarding than being a married civilian. But, the continued excitement of amphibious invasions, ship to ship combat laced with strategic sailing and knuckling whitening stress of being torn apart by jagged reefs is all present. I am looking forward to what happens next in 'Hornblower During the Crisis'.
Rating:
Summary: "FOR KING AND COUNTRY!"
Review: If you enjoy pre-20th century historical fiction and have a passion for nautical themes, then you will enjoy this 3rd book of Forester's Hornblower series. This series is not written as an epic novel involving a multitude of characters, political angles, or unrelated background events. This series has focused upon the events of Horatio Hornblower ONLY, which I personally enjoy the simplicity yet very entertaining story line. Some advice to readers with minimal knowledge of nautical terminology though, you will be visually lost and not grasp the understandings of the of the tactical ship's situation unless you have a 'Sailing fundamentals or Sailing terminology' book to accompany the books. 'Hornblower and the Hotspur' contains the continued character development and life of Horatio Hornblower. He is given his first official command of a sloop of war and begins to encounter a number of challenges with his newly desired responsibilities. He begins to learn the political life and struggles of being a captain while being torn with his own personal beliefs. Also, Horatio passively allows himself to become married without truly wishing to marry his bride and learns that life at sea is often much more rewarding than being a married civilian. But, the continued excitement of amphibious invasions, ship to ship combat laced with strategic sailing and knuckling whitening stress of being torn apart by jagged reefs is all present. I am looking forward to what happens next in 'Hornblower During the Crisis'.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best in the series
Review: In this volume, Hornblower takes command as the Commander of the Hotspur, a sloop which is a small ship used as a reconnaisance ship. Hornblower has the task of trying to frustrate the objectives of Napoleon's ambition of dominating Europe for king and country. The book is flooded with intrigue and packed with descriptions of life aboard this vessel as well as the personal turmoil of Hornblower. The book has some bright spots including the side plot between Hornblower's reluctant marriage to Maria Mason. Hornblower is torn between feeling pity for a woman who is deeply devoted to him as well as the true thought that he is not in love with her. For Horatio, this seems to tug at him because there are many points in the story that challenge his integrity. In this book, Hornblower will face conflicts that will challenge his views and force him to decide what is the right thing to do. Should he choose to suffer for pride or should he succumb to temptation? Should he choose duty or should he choose sentimentality? I suspect that this is the style of Forester's writing that will probably come up again and again as I read more of his books. In a tiny ship like this in the middle of an epic war with a nation with the mightiest army in Europe, the officers and crew of the Hotspur face endless misery due to poor living conditions aboard the ship. The food quality is poor, there is no proper way to groom yourself as fresh water is mainly used for drinking here, the toil of furling and unfurling sails as well as pumping out water that has seeped into the ship is torturous back breaking work if done often enough, and most likely the crew was conscripted by press gangs led by midshipmen and marines rounding up men during the wee hours of the night. Yet with all that hardship, Hornblower maintains better judgement under these pressures as well as the fear of the well being of his pregnant wife and fulfilling his duty to his King and his ship. However there are lulls in the story where the technical aspects of manuevering the ship even in a scene with the enemy in sight sounded unenticing. The book liberally throws nautical words like leeward, bow, starboard, mizzen, etc. to add some flavor and adventure which may have impressed readers of Forester's generation but not of today's e;ectronic gadget driven generation. The book doesn't impress me but the book has some interesting insights that dive into the nature of the characters as well as how people would have thought during this point in history. Every time I pick up a book about life during this period I alway am grateful of the technological advances man has made since then improving the quality of life. But nevertheless one man's misery is another man's adventure. This book is a decent read but read it as a continuation of _Lieutenant Hornblower_ to understand the larger scheme of the plot.
Rating:
Summary: Not the best in the series
Review: In this volume, Hornblower takes command as the Commander of the Hotspur, a sloop which is a small ship used as a reconnaisance ship. Hornblower has the task of trying to frustrate the objectives of Napoleon's ambition of dominating Europe for king and country. The book is flooded with intrigue and packed with descriptions of life aboard this vessel as well as the personal turmoil of Hornblower. The book has some bright spots including the side plot between Hornblower's reluctant marriage to Maria Mason. Hornblower is torn between feeling pity for a woman who is deeply devoted to him as well as the true thought that he is not in love with her. For Horatio, this seems to tug at him because there are many points in the story that challenge his integrity. In this book, Hornblower will face conflicts that will challenge his views and force him to decide what is the right thing to do. Should he choose to suffer for pride or should he succumb to temptation? Should he choose duty or should he choose sentimentality? I suspect that this is the style of Forester's writing that will probably come up again and again as I read more of his books. In a tiny ship like this in the middle of an epic war with a nation with the mightiest army in Europe, the officers and crew of the Hotspur face endless misery due to poor living conditions aboard the ship. The food quality is poor, there is no proper way to groom yourself as fresh water is mainly used for drinking here, the toil of furling and unfurling sails as well as pumping out water that has seeped into the ship is torturous back breaking work if done often enough, and most likely the crew was conscripted by press gangs led by midshipmen and marines rounding up men during the wee hours of the night. Yet with all that hardship, Hornblower maintains better judgement under these pressures as well as the fear of the well being of his pregnant wife and fulfilling his duty to his King and his ship. However there are lulls in the story where the technical aspects of manuevering the ship even in a scene with the enemy in sight sounded unenticing. The book liberally throws nautical words like leeward, bow, starboard, mizzen, etc. to add some flavor and adventure which may have impressed readers of Forester's generation but not of today's e;ectronic gadget driven generation. The book doesn't impress me but the book has some interesting insights that dive into the nature of the characters as well as how people would have thought during this point in history. Every time I pick up a book about life during this period I alway am grateful of the technological advances man has made since then improving the quality of life. But nevertheless one man's misery is another man's adventure. This book is a decent read but read it as a continuation of _Lieutenant Hornblower_ to understand the larger scheme of the plot.
Rating:
Summary: 4.5 stars -- a thrill
Review: The third book in Forester's Hornblower series is, like Lt. Hornblower, one heck of a ride and possibly the best in the series. In this novel, the freshly married Horatio is posted to blockade duty of Brest, France in his first command -- the sloop Hotspur. His duty is not an easy one. He is at sea for months on end, unable to see his new wife and often with nothing to do. This blockade duty is interrupted by occasional daring forays against Napoleon's navy, which explode with the action narrative that only Forester can deliver. By now, the characters feel like old friends. Hornblower is still filled with doubt and an over-bearing conscience -- sometimes even unclear why he married Maria. But his courage and daring, his honor and leadership are finally making a name for him. Lt. Bush is solid and strong and his first officer. Even Admiral Cornwallis becomes familiar as Hornblower's mentor and admirer. And on shore there is Maria, Hornblower's tenuous link to the real world -- with her simple love for her husband. I have only two complaints. First is one you will find throughout my reviews of this series -- no maps. A map of Brittany would be the most helpful thing in the world while reading this novel. I was occasionally utterly confused as to what was going on (such as when Hornblower escapes a French frigate to the west -- which makes sense if you know the geography well). My other minor complaint comes later in the series. This was written after the original trilogy of Beat to Quarters, Ship of the Line and Flying Colours. But it contradicts the continuity. Many of the adventures that take place in this novel are "later" referenced as having taken place on the Indefatigable when Hornblower was a Lieutenant. Bush seems to have forgetten the events in this book. These problems in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the book, but retentive sticklers for continuity might be annoyed. That trivia aside, this is a fantastic adventure.
Rating:
Summary: Exciting action and character
Review: This is a long story of endless excitement, Hornblower in trouble or on the go! We see him fit out, spy on the French coast then blockade it, spar with a frigate, trap coasters, lead a raid, weather gales, suffer thirst, disrupt a French sortie, find a child, obey stupidity and start an heroic legend, look for riches and battle a frigate, visit his wife, and get his heart's desire. We also understand better the gap between his inner and outer persona, what he is thinking and what others esteem, the uneasy tension between feeling and duty, especially in a responsible ship's captain. How can a Hornblower novel be better? Blockade was never so exciting in other series as when Hornblower is on station. But don't start with this one if you plan to read Forester's series of eleven.
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