h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Horatio Hornblower, Royal Navy - A87769787
Author: Florida Sailor - U235886

I actually started this before the African Queen entry, I got bogged down by the length and switched subjects. The fact they are both by the same author is only a coincidence (I think). Rather than a single book, this a review of a series.

FS

I've read up to and including where he is made a post captain at the end - i shall look through this later

I actually read the hornblower series after reading David Weber's honor Harrington series - which (openly) uses the series as a basis for his sci-fi version - though David's books are much bigger for each section (rank), and he continues after Hornblower ceased

I enjoyed the series greatly, and will look forward to this entry

Oh! I have just had one of those revelatory moments in vvhich I realised that the reason I have been avoiding the African Queen all these years is that I thought it vvas by E. M. Forster (Hovvards End) rather than the Hornblovver guy. Good lord.

Sorry, that's not very helpful here though. I'll be back...

Another good, easy to read and easier to enjoy article!

Hope you don't mind a 'shopping list' of minor bits and bobs I spotted:

C.S. Forester – h2g2 normally would have CS Forester
74 gun ship of the Line – 74-gun ship of the line
You wrote 'Lying at anchor in the harbour of Spithead.' Rather a short sentence, just begging to be longer, perhaps by mentioning that Spithead is the eastern part of the Solent, the water that separates the British mainland from the Isle of Wight.
Irish renegade from giving a speech to the the crew – the the?
There's at least one Lieutenant with a lower case l
commander(the rank – need a space.
thier – their
Atropos or Atrops?
His covet mission – Covert?
Once again Hornblower is a prisoner of was in Spain – Prisoner of war
acomplish – accomplish
South Hampton – Southampton. I should know, I've worked there for the best part of a decade...
I'd also consider adding links to:
A285635 The Literary James Bond
A11689239 The History of the Royal Navy - Part 2 (1660 - 1815)
A23965590 The Method and Procedures of Nelson's Navy
And maybe even:
A12645849 The History of the Royal Navy - Part 3 (1815 - 1914)
Where appropriate

Not to mention (perhaps as references):
A15711301 The Sharpe Novels by Bernard Cornwell
A14331188 'Sharpe' - the Television Action-Drama Films

Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series was heavily influenced by the Hornblower books and share some similarities as a tribute.

Also, are you able to mention when each book was published? You've mentioned the first ones and the last one, I'd just like to know when the ones in between came into being.

Good to see you continuing to write on top form!

<BB<

Good stuff Florida Sailor this seems a comprehensive Entry - I am tempted to start on this series!

For some reason many years ago I was told that they didn't compare at all well with the saga of Aubrey/Maturin of Patrick O'Brien so I never ventured into the covers of Hornblower, even though I really enjoyed the naval and social history. Do you have an opinion, because I'd be quite interested to know.

Updated

I added an ordered list at the end, I think this is much clearer than a jumble of dates.

Also added a section to the conclusion about Sharpe and Honour Harrington with links.

Lanzababy, I prefer Hornblower myself, but I am probably prejudiced. I first started reading Hornblower when I was in 6th year elementary school (never mind how long ago) and I have probably read each a half dozen times or so. I have only read a few of the Aubrey novels, my impression that while Aubrey is more technical, the stories in Hornblower flow more smoothly. But that is just opinion.



FS

Most excellent! one of the best series of novels I've ever read.

You might want to - but this would be up to you - mention the several series that have been inspired by Hornblower? Sharpe is one (Cornwell wanted a land-based Hornblower type character). Captain Kirk (yes, he) of the original series of Star Trek is also said to be based on Hornblower. And I am sure there are many more (maybe even the very short Fancy Jack Crossman series about the Crimean war and possibly the series about Rammage... yes, I've read too many of them)

What they have in common, is that the main character is taken away from the structure of the organisation that he belongs to for long periods, and has to make command decisions which are later examined by his seniors. etc etc.

Unfortunately for he made for TV series, they didn't age Hornblower enough, because one thing that the series of novels does very well is show how his background, and his own complete and utter conviction that he is not deserving of his rank and promotion affect what he does. Another thing that comes over (for me) in the novels is that he does display a certain contempt for his rank and file sailors, and almost never expects them to act with dignity or integrity. There are one or two exceptions (his "batman" Brown being one) but we often have a good look at how Hornblower's mind works in how he acts towards his crew, and his seniors.

Hmm... maybe this is a better comment to the article itself instead of PR but I wanted to say how much I love that this article is here

A glowing endorsement! Thanks Sho - that's so good to hear.


I only have one comment FS, and that is a request to italicise the names of the books please, including in the headers themselves.

< header > < i > title < /i > < /header >

[Take out the spaces I've put in - Pliny won't show text or links between angled brackets as it treats them as a non-existent smiley code and removes them from the posting.]

Aye, aye all the < I > - < /I > have been updated!

FS

Thanks Florida Sailor - that saves the eventual sub-editor some time.

Hands round grog ration

My last request will be to ask if you've any of these books you could photograph please? If you arrange them artistically on a table in bright light and send a few versions to Tavaron? Or a single book front cover, as today's feature tab is displaying?

Hi Florida Sailor.

I thought that this was an excellent summary of the Hornblower books.

My first nitpick is that in the introduction, it says it is the tale of a small boy who rises to become a Lord Admiral of the Navy but the first story is of him aged 17, which seems a bit older than a small boy.

I also found the time that they were written interesting. They were written around the start of the second world war, and I see that they demonstrate to a young man thinking of joining the navy that if he is talented and acts honourably than he may be rewarded with glory. Could that message be part of the reason for their popularity?

if you don't have the books available, I have them all but in the collections, 3 books at a time and then the two shorter stories on their own.

I could photograph them if you don't have any alternatives

Takes note of Sho's kind offer.

Maybe Florida Sailor has copies? If not we'll certainly take you up on your offer Sho. Thanks!

>My first nitpick is that in the introduction, it says it is the tale of a small boy who rises to become a Lord Admiral of the Navy but the first story is of him aged 17, which seems a bit older than a small boy.

I was referring to the several occasions when Hornblower reflected back on his life as a small boy living in a small village in Kent. I remember his talking about playing ship-wreaked sailor in the pig trough and standing by the road when the squire went by, holding up his hat.

I am not sure what addition is needed as I do state in the opening of the first book that he is 17 when he joins the Navy.

>I also found the time that they were written interesting. They were written around the start of the second world war, and I see that they demonstrate to a young man thinking of joining the navy that if he is talented and acts honourably than he may be rewarded with glory. Could that message be part of the reason for their popularity?

I have always had the feeling that he really wanted to write the biography of Lord Nelson, but, as a fiction writer he did not want to be bound by the rules that surround a true story.

As a aside I am seriously considering Nelson for my next entry, although as an American writer I hesitate to present a British hero on a British (or British / Irish) site.

As to a photo, I have made a few attempts, but during the week I am forced to work after dark, my efforts have had glares that should not be included in h2g2. Although my collection is no longer complete, and several volumes are quite battered, I hope to be able to supply the needed graphic. I am considering scanning rather than a digital photo. I could then arrange them in a collage if pdf if is acceptable?

As we are still in peer review I believe we still have a week or two, although the "African Queen" 's swift movement surprised me.

Sho, if you want to send your own photos I will not be offended. It is all about building a better Guide!



FS

it's no problem - but I really like the sound of your old and battered books on the photo. Mine are all fairly new


just let me know, you know where to find me

You're both so kind.

If you have access to a scanner FS, you could send individual images of each title ( if it works out) and we could add small pics next to various headers?

I like the sound of the collage too - and I'm sure the Artists would be happy to receive something like that.

Oh, I agreed with your reasoning to the previous comments btw. As for Nelson, please do feel free. You've got such an interest in Naval history that I doubt we have another researcher with better credentials. ( Plus we are striving to be an international website)

Hey, this is great. I've only read one of those 'Hornblower' books, but I'm a big Sharpe fan. I'd never heard of this biography - that sounds really worth looking into!

I've done a bit of close reading here, with a few suggestions for improving clarity:

>>a brief mention of the outcome has to be mentioned...<<

Remove one 'mention'.

.>Self conscientious and insecure these words will haunt him for a long time.<<

The words are not self conscientious. (And I think you mean 'self-conscious'.) Try 'As Hornblower is self-conscious and insecure, these words will haunt him for a long time.'

>>Hornblower faces the Irish Problem for the first time.<<
The way it's written, this makes the Irish Problem look like the name of a ship. How about 'Irish Problem'?

>>the captain falls down an open hatch and is severally injured.<<
I think the captain was 'severely injured'? Or 'injured in several places'?

>>Many of those in power at the Admiralty learned his story and were supportive of him.<<
You switched tenses. I'd suggest staying in present tense. Likewise all through the entry.

Minor nitpicks. Very interesting entry.

I enjoyed reading this - you make the books very appealing. This reading list of mine is getting longer.

And thus I have a question - you say that the books are not vvritten chronologically, as you have listed them here. Is it best to start vvith the first one on this list then, or vvould you recommend a different starting point?

Thanks Dmitri

Mostly updated,

>>Many of those in power at the Admiralty learned his story and were supportive of him.<<
You switched tenses. I'd suggest staying in present tense. Likewise all through the entry.

I will have to go through carefully to find the other instances of mixed tense, always tricky in historical work.





Solnushka

I personally prefer to read them in chronological order. The one disadvantage is that some minor comments in the earlier written books can be overlooked or even forgotten when we get to the later detailed account when read in the order of publication. As an example;

In the earlier books he speaks about his wife, Maria, as a childhood companion, without any detail.

In 'Lieutenant Hornblower' we are told that she is his landlady's daughter while he is penniless and working as a gambler near the end of the book. In subsequent books were come to know her well.

After learning all these details, it is quite jarring to read the simple miss-statement.


Do you think that I should include this in the entry?


FS