http://christmasoncemore.com/2010/03/06/the-young-hornblower-omnibus-mr-midshipman-hornblower-lieutenant-hornblower-and-hornblower-and-the-hotspur/ Christmas cards, gifts and ideas without stress Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:15:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://christmasoncemore.com/2010/03/06/the-young-hornblower-omnibus-mr-midshipman-hornblower-lieutenant-hornblower-and-hornblower-and-the-hotspur/comment-page-1/#comment-308 Anonymous Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:19:47 +0000 http://christmasoncemore.com/?p=409#comment-308 As a sailor myself, and having recently read all through Patrick O'Brien's Jack Aubrey novels, comparisons were drawn with C.S.Forester and Hornblower. I read all the Hornblower novels years ago, and now that I am re-visiting them, I find I read them at a more moderate pace, enjoying and relishing the detail: Hornblower's own character, those of Bush and the rest of the 'cast'. But it is only by considering the details of weather and wind conditions, in relation to a careful look at a map of the relevant coast, that Hornblower's activities - whether clawing off a lee shore or navigating skillfully off Brest - really bite! Whereas I read these before as a young man, at a gallop, they reward sitting comfortably with a fine glass of red wine - somehow it enlivens the image of a creaking vessel of the early 1800's complete with dark spaces lit only by spluttering tallow candles in jars. Especially true in this respect is the superbly written night action in Hotspur- so easily skipped over without concern for the finer detail, but masterly when you use your imagination to see what Forester wanted you to see. And when you have read the last of Horny, and need more of the same, turn to O'Brien - I think that the two authors are out of prety much the same mould. Rating: 4 / 5 As a sailor myself, and having recently read all through Patrick O’Brien’s Jack Aubrey novels, comparisons were drawn with C.S.Forester and Hornblower. I read all the Hornblower novels years ago, and now that I am re-visiting them, I find I read them at a more moderate pace, enjoying and relishing the detail: Hornblower’s own character, those of Bush and the rest of the ‘cast’. But it is only by considering the details of weather and wind conditions, in relation to a careful look at a map of the relevant coast, that Hornblower’s activities – whether clawing off a lee shore or navigating skillfully off Brest – really bite! Whereas I read these before as a young man, at a gallop, they reward sitting comfortably with a fine glass of red wine – somehow it enlivens the image of a creaking vessel of the early 1800′s complete with dark spaces lit only by spluttering tallow candles in jars. Especially true in this respect is the superbly written night action in Hotspur- so easily skipped over without concern for the finer detail, but masterly when you use your imagination to see what Forester wanted you to see. And when you have read the last of Horny, and need more of the same, turn to O’Brien – I think that the two authors are out of prety much the same mould.
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> http://christmasoncemore.com/2010/03/06/the-young-hornblower-omnibus-mr-midshipman-hornblower-lieutenant-hornblower-and-hornblower-and-the-hotspur/comment-page-1/#comment-307 Anonymous Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:18:20 +0000 http://christmasoncemore.com/?p=409#comment-307 The first three Hornblower stories in one volume make for a very fine introduction to this greatest of English naval heroes. Take yourself back in time and marvel at the exploits of His Majesties navy. Rating: 5 / 5 The first three Hornblower stories in one volume make for a very fine introduction to this greatest of English naval heroes. Take yourself back in time and marvel at the exploits of His Majesties navy.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> http://christmasoncemore.com/2010/03/06/the-young-hornblower-omnibus-mr-midshipman-hornblower-lieutenant-hornblower-and-hornblower-and-the-hotspur/comment-page-1/#comment-306 nmb-uk@cableinet.co.uk Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:40:11 +0000 http://christmasoncemore.com/?p=409#comment-306 Worth reading every 10 years or so to remind us what a truly entertaining author CSF was. As good a command of the english language as Conrad, CSF takes us through a man's glorious naval career, occasionally tinged with tragedy but never dull. The ideal introduction to an examination of the Napoleonic era which has spawned so many good books by inspired authors... Rating: 5 / 5 Worth reading every 10 years or so to remind us what a truly entertaining author CSF was. As good a command of the english language as Conrad, CSF takes us through a man’s glorious naval career, occasionally tinged with tragedy but never dull. The ideal introduction to an examination of the Napoleonic era which has spawned so many good books by inspired authors…
Rating: 5 / 5

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