Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

by

Paperback, 310 pages

English language

Published Dec. 18, 2011 by Penguin Books.

ISBN:
978-0-241-95550-5
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OCLC Number:
751762273

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(1 review)

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (published 1950) is a Horatio Hornblower novel written by C. S. Forester. Although it may be considered as the first episode in the Hornblower saga, it was written as a prequel; the first Hornblower novel, The Happy Return ("Beat to Quarters" in the U.S.), was published in 1937.

14 editions

reviewed Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (Hornblower Saga: Chronological Order, #1) by C. S. Forester (Hornblower)

Sailship fun with nationalism

Most of this book is exciting 18th/19th century sailing mechanics with wind strategy, and trying to capture the other ship without destroying it (I enjoyed it!). The cast is (almost) only men. And there are frequent commentaries on how badly organized the other navies/armies are, in comparison to the English ones.

The prose is not the best one I’ve ever read, but it’s easy to read and the chapters are independent episodes, which makes it a good snack.