buy books

The Hornblower Books

By C.S. Forester

The Hornblower books were the original series of sea stories set in the Napoleonic Wars, that last great conflict of the Age of Sail. Many young people have read them and dreamed of adventures on the briny deep.

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower cover Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

Although the sixth Hornblower book to have been written, this is the first in the internal chronology of the series, introducing young Horatio Hornblower as a midshipman just joining the fleet and discovering the challenges of life as a navy officer.

Click here for a complete review of Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

buy the book Click here to buy Mr. Midshipman Hornblower in paperback.










Lieutenant Hornblower cover Lieutenant Hornblower

Although written relatively late in the publication of the Hornblower series, this book is the second in terms of internal chronology. Now a lieutenant, Hornblower must deal with a paranoiac captain who is making his ship into a hotbed of mutiny.

buy the bookClick here for a complete review of Lieutenant Hornblower

buy the book Click here to buy Lieutenant Hornblower in hardcover.

buy the book Click here to buy Lieutenant Hornblower in paperback.










Hornblower and the Hotspur cover Hornblower and the Hotspur

Although the third Hornblower book in terms of internal chronology, it is the last that Forester finished. Hornblower has just been promoted to master and commander, and he is ordered to join the Channel Fleet, blockading France.

Click here for a complete review of Hornblower and the Hotspur

buy the book Click here to buy Hornblower and the Hotspur in paperback.










Hornblower and the Atropos cover Hornblower and the Atropos

Although the fourth Hornblower book in terms of internal chronology, it was written well after many books set later in his career. After taking charge of the funeral procession for Lord Nelson on the River Thames, Hornblower heads for the Levant for an underwater salvage operation.

Click here for a complete review of Hornblower and the Atropos

buy the book Click here to buy Hornblower and the Atropos in hardback

buy the book Click here to buy Hornblower and the Atropos in paperback.










Beat to Quarters cover Beat to Quarters

In the first Hornblower book ever written, Captain Hornblower is assigned to help a rebel against the Spanish Empire in Central America. However, he soon discovers that he is dealing with a madman.

Click here for a complete review of Beat to Quarters

buy the book Click here to buy Beat to Quarters in paperback.










Ship of the Line cover Ship of the Line

Trapped in a loveless marriage and tortured by jealousy when his commanding officer weds his true love, Hornblower seeks to forget by throwing himself into his duties in the Mediterranean. However this may be a fight he cannot win.

Click here for a complete review of Ship of the Line

buy the book Click here to buy Ship of the Line in paperback.










Flying Colours cover Flying Colours

Captured by the French and sentenced to die as a pirate, Hornblower must somehow escape and make his way back to the safety of England. However, he cannot abandon his wounded lieutenant, Bush.

Click here for a complete review of Flying Colours

buy the book Click here to buy Flying Colours in paperback.










Commodore Hornblower coverCommodore Hornblower

Hornblower gets no time to enjoy the accolades for his daring escape, for he is now off to the Baltic to fight French machinations there. He witnesses Napoleon's disastrous retreat from Moscow and helps provoke a Prussian uprising against the Corsican tyrant.

Click here for a complete review of Commodore Hornblower

buy the book Click here to buy Commodore Hornblower in hardback

buy the book Click here to buy Commodore Hornblower in paperback.










Lord Hornblower

Lord Hornblower cover Hornblower is sent by Lord St. Vincent to quell a mutiny on a ship that a tyrannical captain made into a living hell. In doing so, Hornblower ends up convincing a French port city to declare for Louis XVIII and the Bourbon restoration. But all is not yet well, and when Napoleon escapes from Elba and returns to Paris, Hornblower must lead a desperate resistance.

Click here for a complete review of Lord Hornblower

buy the book Click here to buy Lord Hornblower in hardcover.

buy the book Click here to buy Lord Hornblower in paperback.










Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies coverAdmiral Hornblower in the West Indies

This book deals with the close of Hornblower's career at sea. The year is 1821, nine years after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. Hornblower is sent to deal with pirates in the Carribbean, but discovers a plot by the Old Guard to restore Napoleon to the throne.

Click here for a complete review of Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies

buy the book Click here to buy Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies in paperback.










Like many other very successful series, the Hornblower books have also spawned a number of companion books that allow fans of the series to explore in more depth the stories behind the stories. Take a look at them here.

If you enjoy the Hornblower books, you may also enjoy Patrick O'Brian's stories of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin.

If you also enjoy science fiction, check out David Weber's Honor Harrington series, which has been described as "Hornblower in space."

Want to look for other titles of interest?

Search:
Keywords:
In Association with Amazon.com

Your purchases help maintain the Lord Nelson pages.

Last updated March 6, 2000