Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1655059 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09
• Format: Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Binding: Audio Cassette

From Publishers Weekly
MacNee (The Avengers and A View to a Kill) is a superb choice to read this ripping yarn—the third in Forester's expert and exciting series about a young naval officer who rises rapidly through the ranks to become one of England's heroes in the battles against Napoleon's huge fleet of fast and formidably armed frigates. MacNee is perfect as the young Horatio Hornblower, who listeners meet on his wedding day in 1803. The couple's romance succumbs to history as the dastardly French prepare to attack. With the possible exception of Patrick O'Brian, nobody else writes about sea battles with the perfect control of Forester, and MacNee uses all his acting skills to keep the action moving. A few sound effects might have been in order during the fighting scenes, but one can't have everything. A Back Bay paperback. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Library Journal
This trio offer more of the salty adventures of the title character, who sailed the ocean blue during the Napoleonic Wars.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
As he starts life with a new bride, Horatio Hornblower is sent to sea to survey Napoleon Bonapartes strength. Its a peaceful mission, but it still could be dangerous. Even in an abridged version, its the details of naval life that make the Hornblower tales. Patrick Macnee shares C.S. Foresters attention to detail, making Hornblowers habits, such as cravings for coffee and jam, as concrete as his emotions in battle. Macnee shifts tones easily to keep up with a story thats part romance, part action, and part history. The abridgment retains the emphasis on character that makes Hornblower a beloved literary hero and bridges scenes effectively with period music. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

"FOR KING AND COUNTRY!"
If you enjoy pre-20th century historical fiction and have a passion for nautical themes, then you will enjoy this 3rd book of Forester's Hornblower series. This series is not written as an epic novel involving a multitude of characters, political angles, or unrelated background events. This series has focused upon the events of Horatio Hornblower ONLY, which I personally enjoy the simplicity yet very entertaining story line. Some advice to readers with minimal knowledge of nautical terminology though, you will be visually lost and not grasp the understandings of the of the tactical ship's situation unless you have a 'Sailing fundamentals or Sailing terminology' book to accompany the books.

'Hornblower and the Hotspur' contains the continued character development and life of Horatio Hornblower. He is given his first official command of a sloop of war and begins to encounter a number of challenges with his newly desired responsibilities. He begins to learn the political life and struggles of being a captain while being torn with his own personal beliefs. Also, Horatio passively allows himself to become married without truly wishing to marry his bride and learns that life at sea is often much more rewarding than being a married civilian. But, the continued excitement of amphibious invasions, ship to ship combat laced with strategic sailing and knuckling whitening stress of being torn apart by jagged reefs is all present. I am looking forward to what happens next in 'Hornblower During the Crisis'.

Everything that I expected and more....
I read several of the Hornblower books years ago. At that time, I vowed to acquire them all and start from the beginning (in chronological order).

This is a great series! I just finished this, the third in the series. Hornblower is becoming quite experienced in ship handling. Bush, who was introduced in the previous book, is now is first lieutenant. Hornblower has been promoted to commander, one step below post captain, and given command of a sloop-of-war of 18 guns.

He becomes a vital part of the Inshore Squadron during the blockade of Brest. C.S. does a wonderful job of describing the situations.

Points of interest in this book: Hornblower get married and has a son, Hornblower is involved in shore excursions on enemy shores, Hornblower is involved with the taking of the Spanish treasure fleet, Hornblower fights a duel between his sloop (18) and a heavy French frigate (44).

There is one nagging point that I have. C.S. spends a lot of time letting the reader know about Hornblowers thoughts. It's especially bad when Hornblower has self doubts. But, once you get used to this style, the book flows quickly.

The conclusion of the book is quite sudden and is left wide open for the series to continue.

I hope to see Bush and Hornblower together again. Maybe he will even reacquire his steward, Doughty.

Good book!

Little Known Hornblower Literary Interpretation
What does Hornblower symbolize? I analyzed a number of the novels and have found the answer: America! No, you say, can't be. Well, I will support my claim. In one of the books, I believe it was Lieutenant Hornblower but I am not sure, his birthdate is given as July 4, 1776. I am pretty sure of this, and in Hotspur the year is 1803, and Horatio is 27. Not only that, but Horatio is a more a symbol of American ideals than British. Just a common man becoming one of the most powerful men in the British Navy? But in America, this is not quite so farfetched. He also often thinks about inequality in the Navy and other 'subversive' things that seem perfectly natual in America, such as the abolition of prize money. In any case...
The first two novels, Mr. Midshipman and Lieutenant Hornblower, were good books, but I thought the excellent films based off them pretty much encompassed everything (except Hornblower's down and out days at the end of Lt.). I hear that Hotspur will soon be made into movies in the series, and it will probably be the best yet. Horatio has been given command of a small ship, H.M.S. Hotspur, and has to deal with a cowardly steward, a French frigate twice his size, and the intracacies of espionage even before the fleet arrives. The departure of his friend Adm. Pellew and having no friends in the service, the taking of a Spanish telegraph station, a nighttime raid on French shipping all add to the mounting action. The crowning moment is when Horatio sacrifices great riches to protect the fleet. Horatio is the perfect role model, dashing, gallant, courageous. But he is also perpetually worrying, feeling inferior, and with doubts of his abilities. This is an excellent, action-packed book that also has many moral messages. I can't wait to move on to the Captain books, and I am also going to try Patrick O'Brian's books, as the films have made me slightly obsessed with this period and subject.