Next book: Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

C. S. Forester

In terms of internal story-line chronology, this is the first book of the Hornblower series, but not the first one that Forester wrote. This book, a series of swash-buckling mini-adventures, follows Horatio Hornblower from his first appearance on duty in the Royal Navy in the era of the Napoleonic Wars. Some spoiler alerts- He stands up to a bully, and challenges him to a duel. Chance offers him his first command, a captured rice ship, which he botches and get captured, but makes up for it by capturing a larger prize for his Captain. He plays an important role in the capture of a French ship docked in French waters. After the Spanish switch sides, he volunteers to help protect a convoy, avoids capture, and manages to capture a Spanish galley. He is put in charge of a shore party to support an ill-advised attempt by the British army and French loyalists to resist the French revolutionary forces. At risk from the plague, he supervises a transaction for food for the fleet at Oran, is quarantined at sea, again avoids capture, captures a small Spanish coastal and delivers his charge. About to fail his lieutenant's exam, the port at Gibraltar is invaded by burning ships, and he manages to save the lives of his one of his examination officers. Finally, he is charged with escorting orders and an aristocrat to England, but is intercepted and captured; ensuring the safety of his charges, he is subjected to a lengthy imprisonment, but is rewarded for heroism and honor with his release.

These stories were the basis for several episodes of the excellent Horatio Hornblower miniseries starring Ioan Gruffudd. This, and the movie from 1951 starring Gregory Peck got me into these books 10+ years ago. Now I've taken up the Forester books again; here we go...