Not long before the three weeks was up, Caroline landed in Spain with a raiding party for second time to obtain water, and was clawing off when a Spanish guarda-costa began chase. Forester here is good at portraying the psychological disposition of his hero, as well as later capturing the intensity - even the insanity - of a mind committed to a course of action. Masters notes "with a slight stirring of interest that the eyes, despite their owner's seasickness, were looking about keenly . Není zcela černobílou postavou, ostatně se tu začíná stavy deprese, šikanou a úvahami o sebevraždě čili si k němu čtenář chvilku hledá cestu. Horatio Hornblower commences his career in the Royal Navy as an inexperienced midshipman in January 1794.

They check for moisture but find none until it is pointed out that the dried rice will absorb all of it. Midshipman Hornblower begins the seafaring career of a young British officer in one of the greatest historical naval fiction series ever penned! But ultimately it’s seeing the young Horatio grow throughout the tales that makes this a great adventures novel. This is the first in the chronological sequence of Hornblower's life on the ocean wave, but the sixth written by Forester, who had already completed those novels that feature Hornblower's later career.

The galleys are fought off and Hornblower, in command of the jolly boat, helps capture one of them, which gains him promotion to Acting-Lieutenant. I’ve gone sailing—experiences that are both exhilarating and terrifying—and I absolutely adore snorkeling through coral reefs, though I’ve been dangerously battered by waves upon rocks, and I’ve been shocked to find that unanticipated currents had pulled me further into the depths than I’d planned. Through a series of challenges and adventures both in and out of combat, Hornblower discovers he is actually talented in both seamanship and leadership. He and they saw the red rocket, the general alarm, then saw the fire ships running before the wind straight for the anchorage.

As Pique is the faster sailer, Hornblower devises a plan to slow her down: he sets a fire, which soon spreads to the very flammable paint locker.His course to weather Ushant was nor'–east by north, he knew, and the boat close hauled would not lie closer than eight points off the wind—he had lain–to to the sea anchor all night because the wind had been coming from too far north to enable him to steer for England. This book starts out with an extremely unsure and YOUNG Midshipman Hornblower arriving at his first ship.

He is given the slightest of character flaws and he occasionally fails, but his fairly consistent successes and need to chastise himself for his failings could get a bit tedious for some readers.Story 9: “Hornblower and Noah’s Ark” – This chapter reminds me a lot of The Pirate Coast by Richard Zachs, a book I read many years ago, long before starting this book-review blog. Having grown up in the US’s Midwest, I’d never been much a fan of the ocean or of tales about sailing.