Hornblower and the Hotspur Paperback – Big Book, 13 July 2017

We begin this book with a marriage, and his goodly wife is a backstory throughout the book including the birth of their son.CAPT P is in charge of the channel fleet and treats HH well. But Peilligrew soon gets his start and moves off. HH manages to impress the Rear Admiral, and this works out handsomely by the end of the book.There are several major portions.Initially, in peace HH has been instructed to find out about the strength and disposition of the French fleet. HH accomplishes this by befriending and bribing fishermen.Then, the war is upon them and there is powder discharged and sails aplenty.The final portion of the book deals with the capture of the bullion caravan from the New World to Spain and the successful British interception of the fleet.Once again, HH is at the wrong place at the wrong time and misses out on becoming a wealthy man.

Although chronologically the third instalment of Hornblower's career - covering the period from April 1803 to July 1805 - `Hornblower and the Hotspur' was the last complete novel to be written in the series by CS Forester. It was published in 1962.The novel's opening lines are "'Repeat after me'", as the parson conducts Hornblower's marriage ceremony to Maria. Forester tells us Hornblower's thoughts, remarking "If he had a grain of sense, he would break off this ceremony even at this last moment." Bernard Cornwell, in his introduction to my Penguin edition, observes how "Forester invented her solely to embarrass Hornblower". I think Hornblower is too hard on his wife. She has some sterling qualities, most notably her loyalty and devotion. Forester notes this "was the first time in all his life that he had put to sea leaving behind him someone who was interested in his fate." And Maria would be hurt and yet totally forgiving to hear her `Horry' grow intimate with the ways of his ship, "like a bridegroom learning about his bride."All the same, we can empathise with Hornblower's sense that his wife is perhaps too cloying. But is there also an element of snobbery in his approach to her? Besides, with war again about to be declared on France, I'm not sure that we should speak well of a man who puts action and adventure and the lure of promotion above his family. And yet, Hornblower's capacity for placing humanity over duty is displayed in his facilitating the escape of his former steward, but our hero - as expected - still tortures himself over his perceived loss of integrity.As for the scope of operations, in this instalment Hornblower is off to Brest to reconnoitre the French fleet there prior to its blockade by the Channel Fleet. On duty outside the French naval base, Forester describes how "England had a heart, a brain, an arm, and he [Hornblower] and Hotspur were the final sensitive fingertips of that long arm." These circumstances are hardly material to inspire adventure, and yet there is still scope for action. Hornblower's deeds help prevent the French fleet from breaking out and invading Ireland; he attacks boats intended for Napoleon's invasion of England; and he finally has the chance to earn some prize money care of the Spaniards. Our hero is still shown to be fallible: witness his attack of seasickness as he cruises down the Channel.But there is much time spent `treading water' inbetween these escapades. And Forester adds spice to what at first glance might seem periods of intense boredom: partly through describing the everyday tasks to be done on board, but also through operations such as the demolition of a semaphore station on shore. Yet, `Hornblower and the Hotspur' is probably the most technical of the series of novels; for instance, one whole lengthy chapter is devoted to how our hero managed the ship in stormy weather.A map of the Brest area would immensely assist the reader. Luckily I had that provided in the `Hornblower Companion' to guide me, but even this was not perfect.

Hornblower and the HotspurThis is the third book in the Hornblower Saga following Lieutenant HornblowerThis book opens with Hornblower getting married to Maria. Hornblower may be able to face canon fire without fear, but he is just incapable of facing a crying woman who wants to marry him. An irony here is that while the British are being "pressed" into service as seamen, Hornblower is being "pressed" into marriage.Hornblower is given command of the sloop HotspurHe is tasked with the mission of reconning (going on a reconnaissance mission) France's primary naval station in Brest. Brest is still an important naval base for France even today according to my information.Hornblower shows a remarkable talent for ferreting out information from the French without his sources even knowing that they have been used by a master spy or Hornblower's men figuring out how he learned certain information.Hornblower distinguishes himself in action once again but runs into trouble with the god, Neptune. The winter weather turns ugly.I highly recommend this book and the entire series to fans of David Weber's Honor Harrington series the first of which is On Basilisk Station (Honor Harrington) , naval adventure fans and ex-Navy people (a Marine who can read, might, also enjoy it.Gunner March, 2014P.S. Hey, I'm ex-army. We love to harass the jar-heads! During Viet Nam we were reluctant to let them play with the claymore mines, A claymore mine is a directional mine that has TOWARDS ENEMY in raised letters on one side. That doesn't work if you can't read English!LaterThe next book is Hornblower During the Crisis (Hornblower Saga)

Fans of the series will see a different side to Hornblower in this third instalment of the epic Napoleonic naval saga.The book opens with Hornblower's wedding to Maria and readers will experience his ever-gradual mellowing, as distance separates a reluctant husband from his devoted bride. The news of two pregnancies enables readers to share and witness Hornblower's more `human' side.Such romanticism and patriarchal duty does not detract from what the reader expects of a typical Hornblower novel. There is plenty of action involving two separate naval set pieces. The first involves a desperate flight from a superior foe and the second sees the Hotspur tackling a higher classed vessel.A truly exciting read, you shall certainly be enthralled with the two set pieces mentioned above; but you will also anticipate Hornblower's relatively frequent encounters with his admiral.If you have read and enjoyed the opening books, you will certainly not be disappointed with this one.

Outstanding writing by a master storyteller; if you love tall ships and history and Hornblower, this whole series is for you