Ahoy! Those who would read tales of daring adventure and follow the career of a young man as he travels the world with the British Navy in the late 1700s ought to find Horatio Hornblower an agreeable reading companion.
Born July 4, 1776, Horatio is the son of a middle class doctor, and his family has managed to scrape together the funds to purchase him a commission in the King's Navy. Midshipman Hornblower has never set foot on a ship, but his bright eyes and desire to excel at everything he does soon have him swabbing the decks and climbing the rigging with the best of the experienced sailors. Whether he is keeping his men from breaking the rules during the long, cold winters, or saving the lives of three admirals during a Spanish fire-ship attack, Hornblower does not have to fight to keep the attention of his audience.
The book itself is written in episodes, each chapter neatly containing its own little story. The only thing that might prevent someone from reading them out of order is the fact that each story is a step in the young seaman's career. By the end of his eleven book series, Forester takes his bright young hero to the illustrious rank of Admiral.
Hornblower's character and personal values make him an ideal role model for young people. Whether you are trying to teach them the importance of being honorable or just the benefit of a good work ethic, Hornblower's ability to adapt to his surroundings, learn from his mistakes and keep himself accountable makes him a fabulous character to add to anyone's literary collection of friends.
Reading level: Approximately 6th grade, but enjoyable even if you're post-collegiate.
My apologies for the brevity of this review. I have been much busier than I anticipated these past two weeks. Hopefully in the future these reviews will give us a chance to have an intelligent discussion about literary techniques and writing styles.
I have never heard of this series, but you make it sound interesting. I might just have to go find it in my library. =)
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