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mbondlamberty's review against another edition
4.0
A nice ending to the series (though technically you get one more glimpse of Hornblower).
Not great and a little contrived at times (really a hurricane?) but I enjoyed it.
Could have done without an 18 year old girl swooning over Hornblower, but dealing with the pirates and the Spanish last little laugh was pleasing. Fast read as always.
Not great and a little contrived at times (really a hurricane?) but I enjoyed it.
Could have done without an 18 year old girl swooning over Hornblower, but dealing with the pirates and the Spanish last little laugh was pleasing. Fast read as always.
siria's review against another edition
1.0
The last book in the Hornblower series. Thank heavens. I can now retreat back to the miniseries, safe in the knowledge that I have done my duty and made it through the source canon. Now all I have to do is focus on Ioan Gruffudd!Horatio and tell myself that there is no way he could ever end up like this. *nods firmly*
(Can you tell that I really didn't like this series? I know I'm subtle)
(Can you tell that I really didn't like this series? I know I'm subtle)
jvanwagoner's review against another edition
adventurous
4.0
A series of short stories
I finally made it through the series. This last book is a series of short stories similar to Midshipman Hornblower. It was during peacetime, so there was less wartime action, but Forester did come up with some interesting problems for Hornblower to solve. I generally enjoyed the book but would not consider it among the best of the series.
I do recommend the series as a good-thinking man action-adventure tale. I liked Hornblower's problems solving skills, and he came up with solutions to issues that I didn't think of but did make sense. In addition, his character was complex enough to be interesting.
I originally wrote this review on 1/7/2011.
I do recommend the series as a good-thinking man action-adventure tale. I liked Hornblower's problems solving skills, and he came up with solutions to issues that I didn't think of but did make sense. In addition, his character was complex enough to be interesting.
I originally wrote this review on 1/7/2011.
iainkelly_writing's review against another edition
4.0
The war is over, Hornblower is an Admiral. A collection of short adventures that lack the excitement of the earlier books, but still entertain.
tweiland's review against another edition
3.0
Last of the series and the story winds down too much. The least interesting of the series.
bosermoki's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
elizabethk_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Wow... first off I loved the format of the vignettes of events over the 3 year appointment. I was wondering what Hornblower's amazing intellect could be used for in peacetime, and I was surprised at how much was going on despite the peace. It was good to see him as the hero and strategist up until the end. The closure between him and Barbara was more touching than I could have imagined. Overall, it left me wanting more. Thankfully, the second half of Hornblower During the Crisis awaits...
vasha's review against another edition
2.0
This book (the latest, according to internal chronology, of the Hornblower novels) makes a change from the focus on the Napoleonic wars so typical of British naval fiction. It takes place between 1821 and 1823, and although one of its five nearly self-contained sections features a band of fanatical Bonapartists convinced that the Empire can still be revived, in the rest Hornblower is largely concerned with maneuvering through Britain's delicate non-hostile relations with Spain and the US. Potential source of conflict is Britain's intention to suppress the slave trade (Spain hadn't abolished slavery yet), and the bid for independence of Spain's new world possessions (Britain had not yet officially recognized their independence but tacitly favored it).
Forester enjoys inserting notes about how life is changing on the brink of the Victorian age: for one thing, Hornblower attends a reception, not in a uniform and cocked hat, but in a black evening coat and top hat (which first became popular in the 1820s). The author hints at the way the Navy is about to change beyond recognition, with wooden ships very soon to be phased out, but Hornblower unsurprisingly doesn't imagine it. At one point, he leads fleet exercises to train young officers to fight a battle in ships-of-the-line, unaware that Britain will never again fight such a battle.
As I noted, this book is divided into five chapters which almost seem to have been written independently of each other. Although the fourth, concerning a rich young British manufacturer who purchases a sold-out-of-the-service warship for hidden reasons, is quite good, I'm afraid I have to express the opinion that the general quality of the writing in this book is slack. Forester overwrites Hornblower's mercurial emotions, having him repeatedly switch from happiness to despair in an exaggerated manner; some phrases are not well chosen; and although there are good plot ideas, they are not sustained in as interesting a manner as Forester ought to be capable of. So, although its setting makes a nice change of pace, I can't wholeheartedly recommend this book.
Forester enjoys inserting notes about how life is changing on the brink of the Victorian age: for one thing, Hornblower attends a reception, not in a uniform and cocked hat, but in a black evening coat and top hat (which first became popular in the 1820s). The author hints at the way the Navy is about to change beyond recognition, with wooden ships very soon to be phased out, but Hornblower unsurprisingly doesn't imagine it. At one point, he leads fleet exercises to train young officers to fight a battle in ships-of-the-line, unaware that Britain will never again fight such a battle.
As I noted, this book is divided into five chapters which almost seem to have been written independently of each other. Although the fourth, concerning a rich young British manufacturer who purchases a sold-out-of-the-service warship for hidden reasons, is quite good, I'm afraid I have to express the opinion that the general quality of the writing in this book is slack. Forester overwrites Hornblower's mercurial emotions, having him repeatedly switch from happiness to despair in an exaggerated manner; some phrases are not well chosen; and although there are good plot ideas, they are not sustained in as interesting a manner as Forester ought to be capable of. So, although its setting makes a nice change of pace, I can't wholeheartedly recommend this book.
kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
3.0
One of my favorite Hornblower novels!
I liked that he finally did one completely unselfish act in his life. When the hurricane comes and he ties Barbara to the mast, he wants to give up and sit down, but he stays standing up so that he can hold her and protect her from the elements. Not from pride (for once in his life), but out of sheer love for her.
I liked that he finally did one completely unselfish act in his life. When the hurricane comes and he ties Barbara to the mast, he wants to give up and sit down, but he stays standing up so that he can hold her and protect her from the elements. Not from pride (for once in his life), but out of sheer love for her.