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A review by dotorsojak
The Happy Return by C.S. Forester
4.0
4.2 stars rounded down
The first of CSF's Hornblower books, this is THE classic tale of its kind, that is to say of the lonely, self-doubting military leader, far from home, who must fight impossible odds against an implacable enemy.
One of the great things about this novel is that CSF begins the tale in medias res and only gradually gives biographical details about Hornblower as needed. For example, we learn that he has had two prior commands, though we are never given any details of ship or mission. (Of course, CSF works out some of these biographical details in later books.)
The first of CSF's Hornblower books, this is THE classic tale of its kind, that is to say of the lonely, self-doubting military leader, far from home, who must fight impossible odds against an implacable enemy.
One of the great things about this novel is that CSF begins the tale in medias res and only gradually gives biographical details about Hornblower as needed. For example, we learn that he has had two prior commands, though we are never given any details of ship or mission. (Of course, CSF works out some of these biographical details in later books.)