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- Oct 12, 2003
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I have not read Hornblower but have heard of it. Wasn't there a TV series or movie or something on Hornblower?
Yeah, it was a TV miniseries on A&E. That's what got me into the Hornblower novels. You can read them in the order they were written or read them chronologically. Each way has its own merits. Personally, I like the frigate years and when he had command of small ships and small flotillas. Lovely books.
Although the Hornblower novels are written more simply, I never found the Alexander Kent or the Patrick O'Brien novels to quite capture the spirit of naval life as well as CS Forester. Stephen Maturin, OTOH, is one of the best characters ever written and is what truly made the Aubrey-Maturin stories stand out. Absolute travesty that the movie focused on Jack Aubrey more. Gruff sea captains the likes of Aubrey are a dime a dozen. Well written 19th century scientist-adventurers in that setting OTOH, are not.