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warrenl's review against another edition
3.0
I've been reading the Hornblower series in chronological order and, having completed "Lord Hornblower", I've only "Hornblower In The West Indies" left (a handful of short stories excepted). This close to the end, it is "Lord Hornblower" that I have enjoyed the least of all. Hornblower is a complex, faulty character, admirable and unlikable in equal turns, drawn by Forester with great depth, skill and insight. Each book takes us deep into his extraordinary head.
But in Lord Hornblower we perhaps get a little too much of Hornblower's psyche, and not enough story. And Hornblower's psyche can wear a little thin. I can't decide at this point whether I like him or not. He veers too far into self-analysis, and emerges in self-pity. His infidelity with Marie discomforts me enormously. Perhaps because by this point I have come to greatly admire Barbara, Lady Hornblower. Perhaps because I'm reluctantly aware of my own weaknesses, and Hornblower reflects them more than I really care to admit. Perhaps it's the way Forester moves quickly on from Hornblower's grief following the deaths of Bush and Marie. Hornblower is made to seem a little colder and more detached than usual, although I consider this Forester's doing more than Hornblower's.
It's difficult, I'm not analytical enough to pin it down completely, but I wasn't transported so completely into this book as the others in the series. Nevertheless, even Forester's worst Hornblower novel is a fine read, and if you've got this far you've no choice. But be prepared for a little disappointment.
But in Lord Hornblower we perhaps get a little too much of Hornblower's psyche, and not enough story. And Hornblower's psyche can wear a little thin. I can't decide at this point whether I like him or not. He veers too far into self-analysis, and emerges in self-pity. His infidelity with Marie discomforts me enormously. Perhaps because by this point I have come to greatly admire Barbara, Lady Hornblower. Perhaps because I'm reluctantly aware of my own weaknesses, and Hornblower reflects them more than I really care to admit. Perhaps it's the way Forester moves quickly on from Hornblower's grief following the deaths of Bush and Marie. Hornblower is made to seem a little colder and more detached than usual, although I consider this Forester's doing more than Hornblower's.
It's difficult, I'm not analytical enough to pin it down completely, but I wasn't transported so completely into this book as the others in the series. Nevertheless, even Forester's worst Hornblower novel is a fine read, and if you've got this far you've no choice. But be prepared for a little disappointment.
fivetilnoon's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I forgot how much I enjoy Hornblower novels. The adventure, the introspection, the historical setting of the Napoleonic wars. This book covers the politics of the end of the war and the 100 days -- the conflict between Bourbon and Imperial loyalty, and the common people caught in the middle that just wanted to live in peace. I love how Hornblower projects confidence and his idealized image of a Navy officer, while doubting himself and obsessing over his weaknesses.
readingfar's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
ivorgeoghegan's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
thisotherbookaccount's review against another edition
2.0
If you are reading a Hornblower book, you want to read about his adventures on the high seas, right? It's like, if you are reading a Sherlock Holmes book, you want to see him solve murders and mysteries — not a hiking trip to Dover, for example. The issue I have with this book, the second-to-last in the Hornblower series, is the fact that it spends more time on land than at sea. Literally half the book is about Hornblower on land and having struggles with his life there, and the last third of the book, where he wages some kind of guerrilla warfare on French troops, does not help either.
It is a disappointment, considering that the book begins with such a great hook: Hornblower is tasked to find a mutinous British ship and bring it back, but he understands why the mutineers did what they did and did not want to condemn the men to death. It is the inner struggle that really got my hopes up for the first half of the book.
Then, of course, the conflict is resolved in a few short pages, and the rest of the book sinks like a damaged boat in a storm. Even Bush's death happens off page, as if Forester got lazy to describe what happens.
A reviewer brought this up also, about Marie as Hornblower's love interest. I get why Hornblower cheated on Maria to be with Marie at first, since there was no real love loss there, but cheating on Barbara doesn't make a lick of sense to me. Hornblower's sudden turn of character is and has been a little off putting too, especially since he gained more power. In a weird way, I much prefer it when he was still struggling up the ranks, trying to make his mark and becoming a better seaman. Now that he has all the power in the world, with only his inner demons to contend with, the book series is poorer for it.
Please return to the high seas, Lord Hornblower, for the last book in the series. I am almost at the end of the journey. Let's take it home.
It is a disappointment, considering that the book begins with such a great hook: Hornblower is tasked to find a mutinous British ship and bring it back, but he understands why the mutineers did what they did and did not want to condemn the men to death. It is the inner struggle that really got my hopes up for the first half of the book.
Then, of course, the conflict is resolved in a few short pages, and the rest of the book sinks like a damaged boat in a storm. Even Bush's death happens off page, as if Forester got lazy to describe what happens.
A reviewer brought this up also, about Marie as Hornblower's love interest. I get why Hornblower cheated on Maria to be with Marie at first, since there was no real love loss there, but cheating on Barbara doesn't make a lick of sense to me. Hornblower's sudden turn of character is and has been a little off putting too, especially since he gained more power. In a weird way, I much prefer it when he was still struggling up the ranks, trying to make his mark and becoming a better seaman. Now that he has all the power in the world, with only his inner demons to contend with, the book series is poorer for it.
Please return to the high seas, Lord Hornblower, for the last book in the series. I am almost at the end of the journey. Let's take it home.
jimmypat's review against another edition
2.0
I can’t stand to spend any more time with Horatio. Time to mutiny and leave the series for good.
adamsw216's review against another edition
3.0
Closer to 3.5 stars, but not quite enough to round up to 4.
missmelia's review
adventurous
fast-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? Yes
3.75