Mr Midshipman Hornblower

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The growth in Hornblower’s character was satisfying to experience, though in retrospect I can see how each episode was used just for that purpose, imbued with moral lessons as much as a steps on the path to the wise and courageous commander he will become. 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. Following Hornblower’s quarantine, he’s rewarded with the opportunity to captain a vessel that will take a Duchess back to England. This book is essentially a series of short stories, recounting his progress in ability and experience, up to his promotion to full Leftenant. After reading Jason Koivu’s beautiful five-star review here on GR, I’ve decided to someday (if I get the chance) revisit it!

I have to say, it's funny to get into the middle of the entire series and encounter the old books with their stiff characters and stilted writing. The fortresses of Ferrol and San Anton across the bay were manned and ready to fire upon the British ship should she come within range. This chapter begins with winter in the Bay of Biscay, HMS Indefatigable patrolling the French shore.This particular book is very episodic in nature -- almost a collection of standalone short stories tracing highlights in Hornblower's very early career. Motivated by this act of emotional self-flagellation Hornblower runs unaided along the yardarm and looses the topsail. Hornblower and the Examination for Lieutenant" and " Hornblower the Duchess, and the Devil" were my two favourite tales, but all of them were readable and kept my interest. They grapple onto and board the galley, taking her in just a couple of minutes, then manages to get the galley near the gig so it's crew can board and assist.

I seem to remember Forrester painting the French and Spanish as simply despicable and treacherous, but I didn’t see much of that here in the times when he was a prisoner of their navy.

Ofttimes, he would go up to the shore to stare out to sea wishing he were back on board a ship of the British navy. Hornblower yells that God was on the mainyard, that puts Finch into action and they both jump to the mainyard, then meets with Midshipman Bracegirdle, then descends to deck to safety.

Though not an unqualified success, this first naval adventure teaches the young midshipman enough to launch him on a series of increasingly glorious exploits. On the way, he finds himself surrounded by enemy ships in the dense fog and is captured then imprisoned for two whole years. This novel is episodic, with named chapters (US editions begin each chapter title with "Hornblower") that often focus on a self-contained incident. Recently I’ve read others, like Alexander Green’s Scarlet Sails (1923) and Clive Cussler’s Sea Hunters (1996)—among so many others.

Gli episodi che concorrono alla formazione del giovane Hornblower sono spezzettati, separati tra loro come singoli racconti, anche se, com'è ovvio intuire, l'insieme forma a suo modo un unicum, una sorta di romanzo anomalo-alternativo che copre un lasso di diversi anni.