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timnorman's review against another edition
2.0
I was originally interested in reading the Hornblower books because I heard that Patrick Stewart used him as some of the inspiration for Capt Jean-Luc Picard. The problem with the whole series is that the character is kind of all over the place; I know that it runs throughout his life and career, but the older Hornblower gets the worse a person he becomes.
Early in the series he's a pretty respectable character who I could see being inspiring and worth of emulation, but by the time he makes commodore he's just a miserable shell of that younger self. His outward actions seem alright, but because so much of the story takes place in his head you know every thought that goes through his mind, and that the only decent and honourable thing about him is how he thinks someone of his rank should act. He's needlessly cruel to his subordinates, family and what passes for friends (although I acknowledge that Royal Navy officers fighting in the Napoleonic wars weren't known for their kindness), and he doesn't come across as a very good leader.
A certain amount of disconnect is inherent in reading a story written in the mid-20th century, about a time more than 150 years before that, but it's hard to relate to the title character who's so contemptible. Especially when you started reading the series because you thought he was a good role model.
My gripes with the character aside, the story wasn't terribly exciting either. Unlike the previous few books in the series there's not a lot of action in this book - mostly going to a royal ball, and a siege that's so boring that months are literally skipped over. Definitely one of the more disappointing books in the series.
Early in the series he's a pretty respectable character who I could see being inspiring and worth of emulation, but by the time he makes commodore he's just a miserable shell of that younger self. His outward actions seem alright, but because so much of the story takes place in his head you know every thought that goes through his mind, and that the only decent and honourable thing about him is how he thinks someone of his rank should act. He's needlessly cruel to his subordinates, family and what passes for friends (although I acknowledge that Royal Navy officers fighting in the Napoleonic wars weren't known for their kindness), and he doesn't come across as a very good leader.
A certain amount of disconnect is inherent in reading a story written in the mid-20th century, about a time more than 150 years before that, but it's hard to relate to the title character who's so contemptible. Especially when you started reading the series because you thought he was a good role model.
My gripes with the character aside, the story wasn't terribly exciting either. Unlike the previous few books in the series there's not a lot of action in this book - mostly going to a royal ball, and a siege that's so boring that months are literally skipped over. Definitely one of the more disappointing books in the series.
readingfar's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thisotherbookaccount's review against another edition
3.0
What I love about the Horatio Hornblower series of books seems to be missing in this volume, and maybe it is because Hornblower now has more influence, power and wealth than ever before. As the commodore, he has command of several warships, and takes on a more backend role with most of the adventures. As a result, nighttime assaults, sabotages and bombing runs happen in a distance, with Hornblower observing from far away. It feels as if he is removed from the action, then describing the details to the readers after the fact. This book is also short on naval battles, which, I imagine, is the chief reason why most of us are still here after nine books or so. Instead, we have a lot of diplomacy, which, truth be told, is interesting only when doled out with a healthy dose of action in between. Most of the time, Hornblower is negotiating with the Prussians or the Russians, or having dinner parties with the Czar. I do miss a time when Hornblower had to answer to an unjust authority, or when he didn't have that much power. Underdog stories tend to read better when they triumph, even with their hands tied.
ivorgeoghegan's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
missmelia's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mbondlamberty's review
5.0
Really enjoyed this book. It is different to have a lot of it take place on land in Riga of all places. It was also gratifying to have Hornblower not be instantly fluent in the native tongue either.
And his lapse in morality was also humanizing, if disappointing.
And his lapse in morality was also humanizing, if disappointing.
siria's review against another edition
1.0
Probably one of the more interesting of the series, historically speaking, given that it is set in Russia and the Baltic during one of the key periods of the Napoleonic wars. The battle scenes are well-described, and thankfully Horatio isn't in the company of women for too long, so the descriptions of women throwing themselves at him because of his repressed, stoic manly heroism are at a minimum. The more mature, chronologically speaking, Horatio becomes, though, the more he grates at me.
All that, and what happened to Bush as well? Oh, no.
All that, and what happened to Bush as well? Oh, no.