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avid_d's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
james_patrick's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it. This is a series I've been looking for for several years and it did not disappoint. Captain Sawyer gives off obvious Donald Trump vibes, and then the book turns into Among Us: Royal Navy Frigate Edition, with the title character behaving VERY sus for the rest of the story. Two additions from our own times that only benefit the book.
I like how the answer to the mystery of who pushed the Captain down the hatchway is unresolved and left ambiguous, and I like how well paced the story was. It loses momentum towards the end, however, and the last few chapters are without a doubt the least interesting.
I like how the answer to the mystery of who pushed the Captain down the hatchway is unresolved and left ambiguous, and I like how well paced the story was. It loses momentum towards the end, however, and the last few chapters are without a doubt the least interesting.
northern_gail's review against another edition
5.0
At first I was confused as the narration switches from Horatio to Bush, but I quickly grew to love Bush as well. It was interesting to see how others viewed Horatio, and that we didn't exactly know what happens with the Captain.
truestorydesu's review against another edition
4.0
Dudes on boats. Highly entertaining. Except Bush was kind of a douche. And the whole time I kept wanting to make terrible puns out of the names "Hornblower" and "Bush."
lucy_anywhere's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
frater's review against another edition
4.0
We follow Lieutenant Hornblower on a trip to the west indies, as he sails under the command of a paranoid and insane captain, and later under one more cautious than bold. Thanks to Hornblowers careful, tactful, guidance their mission to rid Haiti of a particular privateer nest is an unparalleled success.
The emotions we feel in the twists that occur as we follow Hornblower into peacetime is itself clear indication of the power of Foresters storytelling. It is clear why these books have inspired many who came after.
The emotions we feel in the twists that occur as we follow Hornblower into peacetime is itself clear indication of the power of Foresters storytelling. It is clear why these books have inspired many who came after.
mdale's review against another edition
4.0
This book gave me more information about whist than I cared to have.
arbuthnot62's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
smcleish's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog here in August 1998.
As indicated by the rank in the title, this is one of the earlier Hornblower novels. Fairly unusually for this series, it is told from the point of view of William Bush, beginning from their first meeting. This occurs when Bush is posted to the ship on which Hornblower is serving as third lieutenant, to become fourth when Bush arrives as his commission is of an earlier date.
It soon becomes clear that something is very wrong about the ship, and that the mind of Captain Sawyer is not what it should be. He suffers from paranoid fantasies about his officers, particularly Hornblower and the first lieutenant. These reach the point where there are discussions about declaring the captain unfit for command, but at this point he falls down a hatchway and is confined to a sickbed. (Hornblower and one of the midshipmen also victimised by the captain are the only witnesses, causing private speculation among the other officers that the fall was not wholly accidental.)
The most important aspect of the book, for itself as well as for the remainder of the series, is the establishing of the relationship between Hornblower and Bush. Although there are moments of the thriller about the book, the early days of this relationship is the focus; this is what raises this book above the run-of-the-mill. There is excitement when the ship reaches the Caribbean, and tension created by the captain's illness.
As indicated by the rank in the title, this is one of the earlier Hornblower novels. Fairly unusually for this series, it is told from the point of view of William Bush, beginning from their first meeting. This occurs when Bush is posted to the ship on which Hornblower is serving as third lieutenant, to become fourth when Bush arrives as his commission is of an earlier date.
It soon becomes clear that something is very wrong about the ship, and that the mind of Captain Sawyer is not what it should be. He suffers from paranoid fantasies about his officers, particularly Hornblower and the first lieutenant. These reach the point where there are discussions about declaring the captain unfit for command, but at this point he falls down a hatchway and is confined to a sickbed. (Hornblower and one of the midshipmen also victimised by the captain are the only witnesses, causing private speculation among the other officers that the fall was not wholly accidental.)
The most important aspect of the book, for itself as well as for the remainder of the series, is the establishing of the relationship between Hornblower and Bush. Although there are moments of the thriller about the book, the early days of this relationship is the focus; this is what raises this book above the run-of-the-mill. There is excitement when the ship reaches the Caribbean, and tension created by the captain's illness.