In the wake of a humbling incident aboard a canal boat in the Cotswolds, young Captain Horatio Hornblower arrives in London to take command of the Atropos, a 22-gun sloop barely large enough to require a captain. Her first assignment under Hornblower's command is as flagship for the funeral procession of Lord Nelson. Soon Atropos is part of the Mediterranean Fleet's harassment of Napoleon, recovering treasure that lies deep in Turkish waters and boldly challenging a Spanish frigate several times her size. At the center of each adventure is Hornblower, Forester's most inspired creation, whose blend of cautious preparation and spirited execution dazzles friend and foe alike.
Editorial Reviews
"A fine tale of the sea, to be ranked with the best of its kind." --New York Times
"Hornblower was never in better form. . . . Forester to a superlative degree has the ability to convey the spray, the color, the wind, and the men molded by the sea." --San Francisco Chronicle
"I find Hornblower admirable, vastly entertaining." --Winston Churchill
"A rousing tale of history, character, and adventure....For once Hornblower is the mouse instead of the cat, but he makes that role fully as dramatic as the other." --Chicago Tribune
About the Author
C.S. Forester (1899-1966) wrote many highly acclaimed novels, including the eleven-volume Hornblower saga and The African Queen.
