Today I crossed off Hornblower and the Hotspur off the Jeremy-Gilby-dot-com Reading List.

I received this book as a gift from Alisha at Pink-Slip-Central, for doing some Geek Work with her site.

I’m very grateful for the token of appreciation.

—- ==== SPOILERS BELOW ==== —-

Series Arc

The third book in the Hornblower Saga, the events of the book occur immediately after the events of Lieutenant Hornblower. The book takes place between 1803 and 1805. Our Hero is now the rank of Commander in the British Royal navy.

Story

From the Back Cover


April 1803. The Peace of Amiens is breaking down. Napoleon is building ships and amassing an army just across the Channel. Horatio Hornblower — who, at age twenty-seven, has already distinguished himself as one of the most daring and resourceful officers in the Royal Navy — commands the three-masted Hotspur on a dangerous reconnaissance mission that evolves, as war breaks out, into a series of spectacular confrontations. All the while, the introspective young commander struggles to understand his new bride and mother-in-law, his officers and crew, and his own “accursed unhappy temperament” — matters that trouble him more, perhaps, than any of Bonaparte’s cannonballs.

So England is at Peace, and the Navy is in scraps. Eventually by the end of the book, England will be at War with France, and Spain.

Plot

• The Marriage of Horatio Hornblower
  We met Maria Ellen Mason at the end of Lieutenant Hornblower, now she is Mrs. Horatio Hornblower… And Horatio is having second thoughts.
• The Preparation of the Hotspur
  Now that Hornblower is Commander of the Hotspur he has to make her ready while on his honeymoon.
• The observation of Brest
  Hornblower’s orders are to sail for France, and observe any goings on. Here he tangles with a French Frigate, the Loire, and finds out that war has indeed been declared.
• The Blocade of France
  Under command of Captain Pellew, Hornblower is joined by a fleet to blocade the French port under Hornblower’s observation. During this mission, Hornblower leads a raid to destroy a French Semephor, and Battery, which allows the British ships of the line to patrol closer to shore.
• The Winter Gales
  As summer turns to fall, the winds shift and now it is harder for supplies to come from England. When the Hotspur is dangerously low on water, Hornblower races back to England just in time.
• The plan to capture the Spanish Flotilla
  France and Spain are scheming to join an alliance. And to pay for this alliance a fleet of treasure ships are coming from the Americas to Spain. Hornblower receives orders to take the Hotspur to Cadiz, Spain; to meet with the English Ambassador to Spain; get the latest news and then join the battle group to intercept and capture the treasure fleet.
• The interruption of the French Frigate
  When a French frigate appears to disrupt the search for the Spanish Treasure Fleet. Hornblower and the Hotspur break off to intercept it (thus removing himself and his ship from any possibility of the large prize money.) Hornblower is successful in delaying the larger frigate and forcing it to move off, leaving the rest of the English fleet undisturbed. Unfortunately, Hornblower misses his opportunity for reward.
• Conclusion
  We learn that the spoils of war are spoiled. Hornblower did the honorable thing in purusing the dangerous French Frigate, and on return to the blockade, Hornblower receives a promotion to Post-Captain.

Characters

• Commander Horatio Hornblower – The Hero
  Now the Master and Commander of the Hotspur, Hornblower is one of the younger officers who are on active duty in the Peace. He’s recently married, and showing some reluctance about that. He is much more happeir at sea. His best Friend William Bush is his trustest lieutenant. His Mentor Captain Pellew is his commanding officer. (Pellew will receive a promotion to Admiral and must take office with the White Fleet, leaving Hornblower under the charge of Admiral Cornwallis.)
  Hornblower, often the stand out, still stands out amoung His Majesty’s Navy, as one who does not like to pursue Prize Money (Much unlike his literary counter part in Captain Jack Aubrey) Even Bush is one who is hungry for Prize money. Hornblower detests the policy.
• Lieutenant William Bush
  Bush does not have much of a role in this book, even though he playes a major part in the begining. He is best man at the Hornblower wedding, and takes charge of all the preparations of the Hotspur while Hornblower and bride celebrate their honeymoon. He is the executive officer of the Hotspur, and handles all the day to day issues of ship’s business. His job is to keep the problems away from the Captain, and he does that quite well. It is disappointing that Bush has such a small role, as I really got to like his character from the previous book.
• Mr. Prowse – Acting Ships Master
  The Senior Most enlisted sailor on the Renown. Prowse is not an officer, but has officer-like authority (like a First Sergent in the Army.) Prowse is a proud man and is slow to accept the young Captain. That is, until Hornblower proves himself as not only competent, but likeable.

  Prowse is a decent Ship’s Master, and knows his sea. Hornblower learns how to use him wisely.

• James Doughty – Captain’s Steward
  The Second Ship’s Steward on the Renown (And not the last). Hornblower’s stewards have a problem with mutiny. The First one, John Grimes, out of cowardice, requested to not be included on the mission to burn the signal tower. (He hung himself in Hornblower’s cabin.)
  Doughty came from Admiral Cornwalis, as a favor to Hornblower. Doughty was a fine steward and very used to tending to the gentlemanly needs of Captains and Admirals. However, he got into a fight with a Bosun’s Mate, and was to be court-martialed. (Hornblower lets him escape when they are in the harbor of Cadiz.)
• Maria Ellen [Mason] Hornblower – Wife of the Hero
  Now a captain’s wife, Maira does everything she can to make her man happy. But Hornblower is so moody that this is difficult. While Hornblower is away at sea, she writes to him faithfully, and informs him that he will soon be a father.
  She later gives birth to Horatio Hornblower Jr., again, while Hornblower is away at sea.
  The major sub-plot of the book is how Horatio deals with being a married man in the service. Something his temperment does not allow him to do easily.

Few other characters in the book stand out. Even the Midshipmen (Who have large roles in the television version) have only a few pages of description and dialogue.

Readability

It was nice to have a book that was a quick read, after The Bourne Ultimatum. I’m eager to pick up the next book Hornblower During the Crisis, but I think I’ll try to knock out some more of my un-read summer reading list from LAST Summer.

Believability

This book was more believable than Lieutenant Hornblower. Horatio is not the hero as much, but there is more of his weaknesses showing, and his character flaws. Not just in Hornblower, but in Bush as well. (Sometimes too much character flaws.) But the story was quite believable.
There is a bit of a date glitch. As the Treaty between France and Space (The Treaty of San Ildefonso) occured last in 1800. In this book it occurs in 1804. (Unless, of course, this is a secert 4th Treaty that the History was unaware of…)

Overall

I didn’t like this book as much as the previous Hornblower novels. I’m not certain why. I think there could have been more plot, or more story. It was nice to get back in touch with the characters I left with Lieutenant Hornblower. But it didn’t seem like enough. Perhaps I was also tainted with a very different made-for-TV version of this book (Which had a lot more plot.)

Overall: 4 stars.

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