Description
1. Mr. Midshipman Hornblower
A young, seasick and insecure Horatio Hornblower joins the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. Through a series of linked episodes—duels, captures, and daring missions—he learns seamanship, command, and moral courage. The book charts his growth from an awkward boy into a competent junior officer.
2. Lieutenant Hornblower
Now a lieutenant, Hornblower serves under a tyrannical, unstable captain. Political intrigue, a mutiny crisis, and battle tests his judgment and leadership. He begins to win the notice of senior officers and earns a reputation for cool daring.
3. Hornblower and the Hotspur
Commanding the sloop Hotspur at the outbreak of war with Napoleon, Hornblower undertakes reconnaissance, blockades, and raids along the French coast. He balances duty with his new marriage, revealing the strain between personal life and relentless naval service.
4. Hornblower and the Crisis (unfinished,
A fragment showing Hornblower preparing an espionage operation meant to hasten Napoleon’s downfall. It foreshadows his rise to higher command.
5. Hornblower and the Atropos
Given his first post-ship, Atropos, Hornblower escorts Admiral Nelson’s coffin, clears pirates from the Mediterranean, and manages a high-risk salvage of treasure, proving himself as an independent commander.
6. Beat to Quarters (U.S. title; The Happy Return,)
As captain of the frigate Lydia off Central America, Hornblower supplies a rebel leader and fights a much stronger Spanish ship. He also meets Lady Barbara Wellesley, beginning the complicated relationship that will shape his future life.
