Rating: 
Summary: The best of the series
Review: I prefer more mainstream historical fiction like "The Triumph and the Glory" or "Cold Mountain" to tightly focused sea tales like Forester's Hornblower series. But the Hornblower books are SO WELL DONE that I just can't resist them. Lord Hornblower tops a very good list of Hornblower books, it, only Hornblower During the Crisis is nearly as good.
Rating:
Summary: An amazing saga of a British naval officer's career.
Review: I'd like to answer the British Columbia readers question. There are 11 novels in C.S. Forrester's Hornblower saga. Additionally, at least one publisher has books that contain up to three of the novels in one volume. Interestingly, Forester didn't write the 11 books in chronological order. Consequently, some publishers elect to place numbers on the spine of each book to indicate where a particular title falls in the chronology. The current US printing (1999), by Back Bay Books, a division of Little Brown and Co., is not complete. At least the last three chronological titles (Commodore Hornblower, Lord Hornblower and Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies) will hit the shelves later in 1999. I can't wait. Each book stands on its own and every one is addictive.
Rating: 
Summary: Enchanting tape!
Review: If you love books on tape as I do you'll love this rendition of our magnificent hero - Horatio Hornblower. Ioan Gruffudd is magical in the reading of this abridged version and most expertly brings his many characters alive - both male and female with the use of different tones and cadences. What I also found most charming were the solo piano pieces between "chapters" - a perfect combination with the rich and romantic voice of Mr. Gruffudd. Perfect listening for those long commutes.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanting tape!
Review: If you love books on tape as I do you'll love this rendition of our magnificent hero - Horatio Hornblower. Ioan Gruffudd is magical in the reading of this abridged version and most expertly brings his many characters alive - both male and female with the use of different tones and cadences. What I also found most charming were the solo piano pieces between "chapters" - a perfect combination with the rich and romantic voice of Mr. Gruffudd. Perfect listening for those long commutes.
Rating:
Summary: The ninth book in the Hornblower series.
Review: It is 1813 and Lord Hornblower has been given the task to rescue Lieutenant Chadwick from the mutinous crew of the Flame. Force does not seem to be the answer, but if Hornblower does not do something the crew threaten to turn the ship over to the FRENCH! And THEN he has to deal with a Prince of France and his wife Barbara meets his mistress Marie!
Rating:
Summary: The ninth book in the Hornblower series.
Review: It is 1813 and Lord Hornblower has been given the task to rescue Lieutenant Chadwick from the mutinous crew of the Flame. Force does not seem to be the answer, but if Hornblower does not do something the crew threaten to turn the ship over to the FRENCH! And THEN he has to deal with a Prince of France and his wife Barbara meets his mistress Marie!
Rating:
Summary: Duty, Seizing Initiative, and Painful Conflicts!
Review: Lord Hornblower continues C.S. Forester's masterful examination of the trials of a conflicted soul, the publicly admired Commodore Sir Horatio Hornblower. Hornblower is married to the woman of his dreams, Lady Barbara, and is enjoying raising his young son, Richard, while Hornblower recovers successfully from typhus contracted during the Baltic campaign described in Commodore Hornblower. All seems well. His biggest immediate problem as the book opens is that he is both bored and uncomfortable sitting through a ceremony for the Knights of the Bath, of which he is one. Suddenly, a messenger breaks in to call away the First Lord of the Admiralty. Looking troubled, Lord St. Vincent immediately sends for Hornblower while the ceremony continues. A group of British naval seamen has mutinied against a tyrannical captain who had abused his authority, and now the seamen want to be granted amnesty . . . or they will defect to the French. Lying just outside of two French harbors, this is a very real threat. Hornblower asks for and is given orders to handle the situation as he sees fit. But he knows that amnesty can never be granted without undermining the discipline of the service. How will Hornblower handle this? He doesn't know, but he's soon on his way into a massive storm. Surely, the mutineers realize that they will dance at the end of a rope if they surrender. Is this the end of Hornblower's fabulous reputation? Set at the very end of the Napoleon Wars, Lord Hornblower shows once again that even the most dire situations are filled with opportunity . . . and peril. This book is most like Flying Colours of the earlier novels, in that the action at sea is very limited while the time spent on land in France is extensive. Hornblower also meets with his old friends from that novel, M. le Comte and Mme. la Vicomtesse de Gracay. As peace nears, it creates new challenges for Hornblower. Never a man to enjoy the salon, he finds that the demands of his wife's family bringing both Lady Barbara and he into increased social interactions with royalty and political leaders. These interactions are despised by Hornblower, and life loses its zest for him. How will he recapture the spirited focus that beating Boney has provided him over the last 20 years? The Hornblower marriage is also put to new strains by the prospects of peace, and Hornblower finds himself tempted to stand aside from his role as Lady Barbara's social escort. How will Lady Barbara and her powerful brothers react? Lord Hornblower reminds me of the story of Adam and Eve after they have tasted the fruit from the tree of knowledge. Hornblower knows himself better now, and also learns new things about Lady Barbara that had escaped him. He has new experiences that further add to his knowledge in this book. As a result, he's a more mature person, but a much more troubled one. With his greater reputation, influence, and wealth, he's also more inclined to stick his oar in to do what he thinks should be done . . . regardless of the consequences. The results are not always pretty for Hornblower, or for those who depend on him. How does the warrior adapt to peace? Like in the StarTrek move, "The Undiscovered Country" you will find that it is a hard thing to do. Vigilance is also needed, lest the peace be lost. Has some problem in your life become so continuing and pervasive that it dominates your perspective on everything? What would you do if you solved that problem, or it simply went away? Are you prepared to build from the fruits of your solution? Or will losing the problem be like losing a crutch instead, leaving you feeling crippled? Look, think, and act for what is ahead . . . or be perpetually chained to what has been!
Rating:
Summary: Duty, Seizing Initiative, and Painful Conflicts!
Review: Lord Hornblower continues C.S. Forester's masterful examination of the trials of a conflicted soul, the publicly admired Commodore Sir Horatio Hornblower.
Hornblower is married to the woman of his dreams, Lady Barbara, and is enjoying raising his young son, Richard, while Hornblower recovers successfully from typhus contracted during the Baltic campaign described in Commodore Hornblower. All seems well. His biggest immediate problem as the book opens is that he is both bored and uncomfortable sitting through a ceremony for the Knights of the Bath, of which he is one. Suddenly, a messenger breaks in to call away the First Lord of the Admiralty. Looking troubled, Lord St. Vincent immediately sends for Hornblower while the ceremony continues. A group of British naval seamen has mutinied against a tyrannical captain who had abused his authority, and now the seamen want to be granted amnesty . . . or they will defect to the French. Lying just outside of two French harbors, this is a very real threat. Hornblower asks for and is given orders to handle the situation as he sees fit. But he knows that amnesty can never be granted without undermining the discipline of the service. How will Hornblower handle this? He doesn't know, but he's soon on his way into a massive storm. Surely, the mutineers realize that they will dance at the end of a rope if they surrender. Is this the end of Hornblower's fabulous reputation? Set at the very end of the Napoleon Wars, Lord Hornblower shows once again that even the most dire situations are filled with opportunity . . . and peril. This book is most like Flying Colours of the earlier novels, in that the action at sea is very limited while the time spent on land in France is extensive. Hornblower also meets with his old friends from that novel, M. le Comte and Mme. la Vicomtesse de Gracay. As peace nears, it creates new challenges for Hornblower. Never a man to enjoy the salon, he finds that the demands of his wife's family bringing both Lady Barbara and he into increased social interactions with royalty and political leaders. These interactions are despised by Hornblower, and life loses its zest for him. How will he recapture the spirited focus that beating Boney has provided him over the last 20 years? The Hornblower marriage is also put to new strains by the prospects of peace, and Hornblower finds himself tempted to stand aside from his role as Lady Barbara's social escort. How will Lady Barbara and her powerful brothers react? Lord Hornblower reminds me of the story of Adam and Eve after they have tasted the fruit from the tree of knowledge. Hornblower knows himself better now, and also learns new things about Lady Barbara that had escaped him. He has new experiences that further add to his knowledge in this book. As a result, he's a more mature person, but a much more troubled one. With his greater reputation, influence, and wealth, he's also more inclined to stick his oar in to do what he thinks should be done . . . regardless of the consequences. The results are not always pretty for Hornblower, or for those who depend on him. How does the warrior adapt to peace? Like in the StarTrek move, "The Undiscovered Country" you will find that it is a hard thing to do. Vigilance is also needed, lest the peace be lost. Has some problem in your life become so continuing and pervasive that it dominates your perspective on everything? What would you do if you solved that problem, or it simply went away? Are you prepared to build from the fruits of your solution? Or will losing the problem be like losing a crutch instead, leaving you feeling crippled? Look, think, and act for what is ahead . . . or be perpetually chained to what has been!
Rating:
Summary: The Hornblower saga -- a must read!
Review: The Hornblower series is one of the greatest sagas I have ever read. It follows Mr. Hornblower as he progresses from a lowly midshipman to a respected Noble. Not only is Hornblower a wonderful character, the time period (England's war against Napoleon) is fascinating. All of these books are priceless works which appeal to both readers of fiction and students of history. A MUST READ!
Rating: 
Summary: Good for half of it
Review: This book started out so well. After Horatio Hornblower's triumph in the Baltic, he is assigned an incredibly difficult duty. He is to take back a ship that has mutinied against one of the most brutal captains in the Royal Navy. The ship is only a few miles from escaping to France and recapturing it is going to take all of Hornblower's ingenuity.
When Lord Hornblower was dealing with this subject, I found it thrilling and captivating. But halfway through, it changes to Hornblower entering France and taking part in the rebellion against the tottering Napoleon. It was then that the novel ground to a screeching halt. Hornblower's attempts to deal with the crown prince of France are amazingly dull and his later guerilla campaign was unbelievable. Perhaps I was turned off by a developement with Bush halfway through that was abrupt and cold. But for some reason, the last half of his book dragged for me -- a situation I'd never experienced before in a Hornblower book. I would probably still recommend purchasing this book if you've come this far. But don't get your hopes up. This is a low point in the series.
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