Booklog 102/2024: C.S. Forester: Hornblower and the Crisis – Hornblower # 4 - Audiobook

[jacey]

The final Hornblower book, unfinished art the time of Forester’s death. In chronological order it’s #4 following Hornblower and the Hotspur. Set in 1805, Hornblower gives up command of the Hotspur to James Meadows, leaving Lt Bush behind to support the new captain. While on his way back to England he’s called to attend the court martial of Meadows who managed to run the Hotspur aground the day after he took over. Court martial over, Hornblower and the Hotspur’s officers are returning to England in a civilian water-boat, when they are chased down by a French warship which will inevitably catch them. In a daring move Hornblower turns the tables and briefly the Hotspur officers, through vastly outnumbered, take the French ship through subterfuge. Hornblower takes an important set of despatches and on return to Plymouth and then London discovers that they are very important. Together with two Admiralty secretaries and an admiral Hornblower formulates a plot designed to draw the French fleet out of their very secure port… and that’s where it ends. I thought another author might have finished off the novel, but all we get at the end if a minute of Forester’s notes indicating the successful end of the plot which leads to the battle of Trafalgar. There are a couple of additional short stories which adds an extra hour to the reading. The narrator is the late Christian Rodska, who is perfect for Hornblower. Good as far as it goes.

Comments

[watervole]

Sounds like one I'll want to listen to. IN spite of the unfinished ending. There's probably a lack of good writers who are experts on sailing in that era, to the standard that Forester was, which might be the reason.