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A review by byubones123
Beat to Quarters by C.S. Forester
3.0
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. If I didn't know Forester had later been a propaganda writer during WWII, if I hadn't already taken to Patrick O'Brian, and if I knew nothing about Forester's personal history, I would have enjoyed this much more. I do think an author ought to consider more in their audience than a blank slate though. And they should definitely sort out beforehand whether or not they want to a) write their feelings unashamedly on their sleeve and/or b) manipulate political feeling in their audience. This puts a huge drag on the story. Hornblower is as overburdened with authorial baggage as he is with his duty.
First, the good. The descriptions of sailing, of the details of this wooden world, are excellent. It doesn't reach the point where you think Forester might have actually lived during the Napoleonic Wars, but it is colorful and immersive. The battles, in particular the brutal slog with theNatividad , are thrilling. A bit melodramatic, but that's more Hornblower's gloss on them (we'll get to that). The story is also satisfying despite an abrupt ending. It has enough adventure that it could sit comfortably next to Treasure Island without batting an eye. Lastly, I felt there was a lot of enjoyable and interesting dialogue between genuinely crafted characters (whenever you start talking to them, you know the author has done a good job).
Now for what I didn't enjoy.
I'm not sure anyone could honestly be a fan of Hornblower as a person. He's not a pleasant fellow. And not in the gruff-but-actually-a-teddy-bear way. He's just downright repellent as a main antagonist. And I'm fairly certain that was Forester's intention. But the fact that I don't know for sure makes me uneasy about Forester's reasons for writing. There is much of autobiography in the first Hornblower outing. Forester originally wanted to write a fact-based Hollywood screenplay with high-seas adventure. ButCaptain Blood beat him and Hornblow/Busch & co. to the idea. Meanwhile a fading opera star was threatening a paternity suit, so he fled to Britain, meeting a lovely photographer in the voyage. Clearly Hornblower (at least in this book) is meant to be Forester as Forester wanted to be.
But is cathartic autobiography all there is to Hornblower's unpleasantness? A subtle thread throughout the story is Forester's proto-propaganda mind at work. The book seems to be saying Hornblower is an unpleasant person, but only because duty drives him there. He's racked with personal detriment, but also very obviously a talented and brave individual. There's a subtext message there about the hard life of a commanding officer, and how underlings should always obey because poor Captain Hornblower just can't feel good about himself or anyone. That message is aimed particularly at male citizens, Barbara's renaissance-lady attitude notwithstanding. She's summarily put in her "proper" place after the bloody fight with theNatividad , and falls for Hornblower (alas, Hornblower is already in an unhappy marriage--woe for duty!). Furthermore, the uneasy allies at the beginning of the story become the enemies by the end, clearly a message that those at war can only rely upon themselves to conquer and win the day. The whole book is riddled with this kind of thought, and I can't chalk it up to historical point of view either. These are very obviously Forester's thoughts, and not his attempt to varnish with historical accuracy.
I'll keep reading Hornblower, but it's so overburdened by Forester himself that it's not a terribly enjoyable experience. Perhaps as the character grows into their own more, he'll distance from Forester's personal drama. I don't foresee doom-and-gloom Hornblower drying up on the propaganda though. If anything, that will probably increase as the character's (and the author's) experience of war continues.
First, the good. The descriptions of sailing, of the details of this wooden world, are excellent. It doesn't reach the point where you think Forester might have actually lived during the Napoleonic Wars, but it is colorful and immersive. The battles, in particular the brutal slog with the
Now for what I didn't enjoy.
I'm not sure anyone could honestly be a fan of Hornblower as a person. He's not a pleasant fellow. And not in the gruff-but-actually-a-teddy-bear way. He's just downright repellent as a main antagonist. And I'm fairly certain that was Forester's intention. But the fact that I don't know for sure makes me uneasy about Forester's reasons for writing. There is much of autobiography in the first Hornblower outing. Forester originally wanted to write a fact-based Hollywood screenplay with high-seas adventure. But
But is cathartic autobiography all there is to Hornblower's unpleasantness? A subtle thread throughout the story is Forester's proto-propaganda mind at work. The book seems to be saying Hornblower is an unpleasant person, but only because duty drives him there. He's racked with personal detriment, but also very obviously a talented and brave individual. There's a subtext message there about the hard life of a commanding officer, and how underlings should always obey because poor Captain Hornblower just can't feel good about himself or anyone. That message is aimed particularly at male citizens, Barbara's renaissance-lady attitude notwithstanding. She's summarily put in her "proper" place after the bloody fight with the
I'll keep reading Hornblower, but it's so overburdened by Forester himself that it's not a terribly enjoyable experience. Perhaps as the character grows into their own more, he'll distance from Forester's personal drama. I don't foresee doom-and-gloom Hornblower drying up on the propaganda though. If anything, that will probably increase as the character's (and the author's) experience of war continues.