Ioan Gruffudd Books

This was my first Hornblower book after a recommendation from a friend. Could not put this book down especially after the mutiny.
The details of life in the English navy in the 18th century and then in London are richly told with details such as the "press gang" that goes out rounding up sailors for His Majesty's ships, the slim pickings of naval officers during the dreaded peacetime, the caste system of well healed officers playing whist to keep themselves in food and housing.
I found it a fascinating book and it increased my knowledge of naval history.
A spellbinding book from a military and social perspective.

Lieutenant Hornblower occurs second in the series by internal chronology, though it was the seventh-written book. Unlike every other book in the series, this one is related from the point of view of Lieutenant William Bush. This alternate point of view allows Hornblower to be presented as a legitimately heroic figure, though it does deprive the reader of the internal thought process of the series' protagonist. The text provides solid background on Hornblower's early career as a lieutenant. Written as a novel, it paces well and has an authentic texture. Indeed, the small-scale combat action is so gripping that in many ways the book eclipses volumes in the series which deal with Hornblower's later career.

Plot Summary (with spoilers):
The novel takes place from May 1800 to March 1803 aboard a cruise of HMS Renown, a 74-gun frigate. The ship's captain, Sawyer, is dangerously paranoid and believes the lieutenants and warrant officers are plotting mutiny against him. To circumvent their putative desire, Sawyer panders to the crew, encouraging them to be lazy and insolent, and issues additional rations of grog. The situation becomes untenable as Renown reaches its cruising grounds near Haiti. Even so, nobody will take the decision action of attempting to remove Sawyer from command.

Fortunately, Sawyer falls down a hatchway and receives a serious injury. There is intrigue surrounding his fall, but no actual witnesses to the accident. Upon Sawyer's physical recovery it is evident his mind is gone--he sobs hysterically and cringes away from everyone. Buckland, the senior lieutenant, takes ostensible command. The unimaginative Buckland botches the ship's primary mission, but disaster is averted when Hornblower proposes an audacious recovery.

From that point forward, it is Hornblower who guides the ship as he influences Buckland subtly but correctly. Indeed, the theme of Hornblower leading his superior officers is a dominant thread in the narrative. The ship carries out other duties with great success until Hornblower is placed aboard a prize--whereupon Renown is almost seized by prisoners. Hornblower once again comes to the rescue and recaptures the ship. The novel ends with Hornblower losing his job because of the Peace of Amiens. He takes up lodging in a public house, makes a meager living by playing whist, develops his friendship with Bush, and meets the young Marie Mason.

Forester's key book on the times...the made-for-tv series episode parallels this book very closely. And I am very picky when it comes to sea books. Definitely at the same level as the Bolitho series!

This is the sixth Hornblower book I've read, although it's only the second in terms of the chronology of Hornblower's naval career. And I must say, it's one of the better books. CS Forester could be a compelling writer, but some of the Hornblower novels feel a little disjointed. Not this one.

Lieutenant Hornblower is written from the point of view of Lieutenant Bush, whom Hornblower meets in this book. The result is that Hornblower is a more interesting character. It also, unlike some of the other books in the series, primarily covers a single plotline dealing with Hornblower's last mission as a lieutenant, so it hangs together very well. The result is a book that I had trouble putting down until I had read the whole thing. I wholeheartedly recommend this installment of the Hornblower series.

C.S. Forester created a superb naval drama that gave me an inside look at the life of a sailor serving in the Royal Navy on the wooden war ship Renown. With Hornblower, and his companion Bush dealing with their befuddled Captain and fighting off the attacks by the Spanish this book kept me reading page after page. I believe this is one of the best books in the Hornblower series and I would encourage anyone with an eye for historical novels to check this series out.

Ok, so I'm only wondering if Ioan Gruffudd is in this...he's my FAVORITE actor, and could this possibly be written by his mother? But anything that has Ioan in it is worth buying, I promise!!!

Hornblower is one of the very best literary characters ever and all of his stories are compelling with lots of gritty action. The language may be difficult for some as it is archaic and filled with jargon, but it is worth it to take the time and enter into the world of the Royal Navy.

I have now bought the whole series so I can watch it for myself in the order they were filmed.
This is a great adventure and fun to watch.

This is the next Hornblower chronologically, it was not the next one written. Now that the series is completed it makes sense to read it as Hornblower's career progresses in the Royal Navy.

The whole series is a pleasure to read full of action and adventure; with enough time for a little romance.

Get acquainted with one of the most popular characters in modern literature.

After reading this you will be back for more. And that is a wonderful thing.

This novel was written after 'Beat To Quarters', but chronogically takes place before.

This was my favorite in the series. A landlubber all my life, Mr. Forester's writing brings the seaman's life to vivid imagery.

Hornblower is in command of the Hotspur and for part of the story is autonomous on the seas, indulging in his spirit of adventure. Every sea battle is unique. It's during the time of the Napleonic war from the British point of view.

I've read this novel a few times. Even knowing what happens next, once I start reading I can hardly put it down.

Great GREAT book.

Hornblower is promoted to Commander, not quite a post rank yet, and given command of a small ship, the H.M.S. Hotspur. He is sent for two years at sea patrolling off Brest as part of the English blockade of French ports. Hotspur is a small vessel that can maneuver close inshore so our hero is supposed to sail close enough to peer into the harbor and report any suspicious activity. The large fleet is farther offshore so Hornblower has independence to sail where he thinks best. The rocks are tricky, the winter weather worse, but through it all the men of the sea navigate back and forth. Maybe out of boredom, Hornblower always manages to stir up some action. He harasses coastal shipping, and engages in "cutting out" invasions in the dead of winter. One of the best part of the whole Hornblower series is the accuracy and detail with which the life aboard vessels is depicted. You can almost feel the

I bought this book as a gift for my dad. It arrived in less time than it would have taken me to go out to the book store! GREAT!

The Hornblower books are a great Napoleonic War era British Navy series. I definitely recommend the series if you like this genre.

This Hornblower is so far the one I've liked the least. It's not too eventful until the end. I think it was meant to show Hornblower in new situations (not just another battle, he spends most of the book hiding in France) to highlight additional facets of his personality. Kudos for trying to develop the character better but I can't say I learned much new about him. Still, worth reading if you like the series.

I have given this book a 4 but it was close to a 3. For me, a 5 is a book that 1) I would recommend to others regardless of whether they read the genre and 2) will most likely reread again in the near future. A 4 is one that 1) I'd recommend if they like the genre and 2) may read again. A 3 I liked but probably would never reread, a 2 was just ok, and a 1 was a waste of time.

This is the next Hornblower chronologically, it was not the next one written. Now that the series is completed it makes sense to read it as Hornblower's career progresses in the Royal Navy.

The whole series is a pleasure to read full of action and adventure; with enough time for a little romance.

Get acquainted with one of the most popular characters in modern literature.

After reading this you will be back for more. And that is a wonderful thing.

This is generally high up on most HH fans' favorites list. And there's no wonder why. For the first time, our heroic Hornblower has failed and lost his ship---which back then, was worse than death for the captain---it's a personal book with Hornblower worrying about his actions and the consequences to them. In addition, the care and attention he shows to Bush is heartwarming, his concern for his future and promise, "I'll make you a captain if it's the last thing I do." This book really put into perspective the fact that while Hornblower may not view Bush as the smartest of men, he IS his best friend. The affair with Marie also can pull a few internal strings, the devotion Marie has for this man and her haunting, "You're a man women can fall in love with." (attempting to get the quote right.)

A must-read. The pivot of the series.

The premise of the book leaves Hornblower without a ship and defeat in the hands of French forces. He is to be sent to French for trial and execution. This book wasn't as entertaining as previous books in the series. The misery is still a recurring theme in Forester's books and the author also toys with Hornblower's torn feelings between two women in England as well as another he runs into in France. Hornblower worries about Bush, his court martial, his wife, Lady Barbara, his unborn child which served as the tension in the story. This really didn't serve the book in making it exciting yet in series like this you'll get a book that serves as a transition from one book to the other. The story felt like this kind of book. This book was trying to get Hornblower from the battle in the previous book back to London for the next book. This book had no plot really of the ongoing battle between France and Britain where one side was trying to outwit the other nor tension between characters the way "Midshipman" or "Lieutenant" did. Considering how Forester wrote the books out of sequence it's probably understandable to have a book like this in order to complete the picture of Hornblower's career. So Forester shouldn't be blamed for the lack of plot. The book on its own isn't that great yet necessary in order to maintain continuity of the series.

The entire series is amazing! I do wish I was a little more of a sailor it would make the read much more enjoyable as his books are filled with techinical jargon, etc... Don't worry though not knowing anything definately does not detract from the stories, but knowing sure would help. Make sure you start with Midshipman as there are many allusions to it in later books.

This is the next Hornblower chronologically, it was not the next one written. Now that the series is completed it makes sense to read it as Hornblower's career progresses in the Royal Navy.

The whole series is a pleasure to read full of action and adventure; with enough time for a little romance.

Get acquainted with one of the most popular characters in modern literature.

After reading this you will be back for more. And that is a wonderful thing.

Excellent book. But just remember...BUY FLYING COLOURS AS WELL. This book ends on a cliffhangar that you cannot concentrate on DeCartes' theorems in class because you are aching to know what will happen next.

This books completely set the stage for the internally-evntful FLYING COLOURS, especially with the frequent haunting memories of young Horatio. Full of foreshadowing, we cannot help but pity our Captain as he hits rock bottom after so much good luck.

Makes ya wonder why everything HAD to happen to him. *sad*

"Ship of the Line" was the second story written in C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower series. As the name implies, Captain Hornblower has command of the ship of the line in this book set during the Napoleonic Wars. Although his ship of the line is an old, unweatherly 74, Hornblower successfully takes her on a cruise off the French and Spanish Mediterranean coast. This book features great naval action, including cutting-out expeditions and a lively

This was the second Horatio Hornblower book that I read, although I had seen the A&E TV series. As a devotee of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series, I was pleasantly surprised with this Hornblower book and I found Hornblower a much more authentic character than the superman of the TV series. Still, it is hard for me not to compare Hornblower with Captain Aubrey: although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I find Aubrey a much more fun and likable character than Hornblower. Hornblower is a much more serious and deep character who is driven by self-doubt.

This is a very good book, and I recommend it to anyone with an interest in naval warfare or historical fiction. It is an action-filledt account of naval life and warfare during the Napoleonic era. C.S. Forester started a genre with Horatio Hornblower, and this book is packed with action and adventure.

After returning home from a very successful voyage to the Americas Captain Hornblower is assigned to a larger ship of the line with two gun decks, the Sutherland. He is assigned to the fleet blockading the Mediterranean coast of Spain where Napoleon's French fleet and the Spanish navy are prevented from supplying Napoleon's armies. In classic Hornblower style Hornblower isn't content to sail idly back and forth, so he finds ways to attack harbors, canals, and a French army near the shore. After several courageous engagements Hornblower becomes the only English ship between 4 enemy vessels and their safe harbor. The remainder of the English fleet is over the horizon, several hours away under sail in light winds. Following orders from the fleet Admiral Hornblower attacks all four, severely damaging three of them before the superior weight of the more numerous enemy fleet renders his ship useless. The wreckage drifts down current into the lee shore and a Spanish harbor where Hornblower is captured. As usual, Hornblower is filled with self doubts. If he ever escapes will he be stripped of his rank or even hanged for losing his ship? Will he ever see his beloved Barbara, wife of the Admiral, again? The detail of ships and sailing in the early 19th century make the Hornblower series must reading for any man who loves the sea.

If you enjoyed the Horatio Hornblower movies on A&E you will enjoy the books more. A must have for the Hornblower fans.

This is the next Hornblower chronologically, it was not the next one written. Now that the series is completed it makes sense to read it as Hornblower's career progresses in the Royal Navy.

The whole series is a pleasure to read full of action and adventure; with enough time for a little romance.

Get acquainted with one of the most popular characters in modern literature.

After reading this you will be back for more. And that is a wonderful thing.

You are hooked. You can't get loose. Buy it.

Hornblower is promoted to Captain, a post rank, and quick advancement for a young officer. As the youngest Captain he gets the duty of organizing a funeral parade for Lord Nelson, during which his grand barge springs a leak and disaster is narrowly avoided. He then takes his small ship Atropos to the Mediterranean where he executes a daring and tricky salvage operation under the guns of a suspicious foreign port captain. Hornblower always manages to stir up some action. One of the best part of the whole Hornblower series is the accuracy and detail with which the life aboard vessels is depicted. You can almost feel the deck pitch. Great adventure in a great series.

I would put this chapter in the life of Horatio Hornblower in the same category as Mr. Midshipman Hornblower -- good, not great

The 5th book in the Hornblower saga concerns a number of events related to Horatio's first command as Captain -- a 22-gun sloop of war. But it doesn't get there right away. First, we get a rather slow segment of Horatio guiding a canal boat into London, then an even slower segment in which Horatio is put in command of Lord Nelson's funeral procession. Both segments are interesting historically but drag in the narrative -- a rare occurance for Forester.

Once we get out to sea, the story picks with Horatio's tour of duty in the Mediterranean trying to recover sunken English treasure. It reaches its pinnacle with the dramatic confrontation between Horatio and the Turks.

I'm not sure why this didn't grip me the way the other novels did. There are some very good things about it -- the interesting dynamic with a German prince stationed aboard the Atropos for example. But the story spend a lot of time wallowing in irons instead of the usual racing before the wind. Horatio's character is static -- his usual daring and courage subdued. And the ending is rather abruptly tacked on.

Still, I will recommend this book as a good part of the Hornblower saga. But it's far from the best.

The setting and characters of Robin Hood are unforgettable. The setting of the story takes place in northern and central England. The story mostly takes place in Sherwood Forest. Robin Hood is the main character in the story. He is a nice man who cares about the poor and gives them money when he sees them. Maid Marian is Robin Hood's fiancée. Little John is a big strong man who helps Robin Hood on his journeys. Friar Tuck is one of Robin's friends. King Richard is the king of England. Sir Guy of Gisborne is one of Robin's enemies who does the sheriff's dirty work. The Sheriff of Nottingham is a cruel person who doesn't like Robin and tries to kill him when Robin turns to an outlaw.

The problem is that Robin is declared an outlaw. Worman is Robin's treacherous steward who then lies about Robin setting a plot to kill the king. At Robin's wedding the sheriff of Nottingham says that the prince has declared him an outlaw. Now Robin loses his land and title and he's living in the greenwood and can't marry Maid Marian. There are four things that Robin wants. First, he wants to marry Maid Marian. Second, he wants his title and his land back. Third, he doesn't want to be an outlaw. Finally, he wants all of the people to stop treating the peasants badly.

The solution ends up being really complex. Robin runs into the forest and puts together a group of merry men. Then he writes a letter to the sheriff to threaten him in his own castle. Then the king returns and restores everything that Robin had lost when he became an outlaw. Maid Marian and Robin get married. When King Richard dies, King John takes his place and Robin becomes an outlaw again. When Robin goes back to the greenwood he starts to fight Sir Guy and kills him. After, Robin threatens the sheriff, saying that if he will not leave the woods, he will kill him. Later, he goes to St. Mary's to confess his sins but he is betrayed and captured. When the merry men hear the news they go to the prison and free Robin.

Robin goes to the Kirklees Priory because he knows that Maid Marian and his cousin are there. His cousin lets Robin's blood and she never seals the wound because she is in the pay of the sheriff. There he dies in Maid Marian's arms.

I recommend this book for several reasons. The first reason is the pictures and the notes that Neil Phillip put in there. I also liked it because of all of the action in the book. Some other features are the diagrams of the castles and people and the CD to read along. Finally, when you listen to the CD, you can hear the sound effects of swords and the birds singing and how the voices of different people sound. This is why I recommend this book to other kids.

My children- 3 & 5 years- love this- they can actually listen to it multiple times a day and have started acting out and reciting bits from it- so cute! We actually use the cd alone- as it's on lone from their cousin who still has the book. The reader does have an accent ( which makes it a bit more authentic) but you may have to help them identify some of the words that sound different. The language is quite sophisticated but the story keeps them enthralled. Great for rainy afternoons, or tired ones- and great for a tv alternative. We also bring our stories on cd in the car for trips or just to make the errands less painful! I highly recommend this and any of the others in the Read & Listen series.

The book I'm going to review is Robin Hood by Neil Philip. The setting of the story is Nottingham, England. The characters are Robin Hood, Marian, Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, Lord Fitzwalter and King Richard. Robin wants freedom, Marian and his title and lands back. His first big problem is the sheriff wants to kill him. So he harasses the sheriff. Robin gets 30 comrades to help him and lives in Sherwood Forest. The king comes back and gives Robin's title, lands and Marian back to him.
The new problem is King Richard is dead and Robin is now an outlaw. Robin kills Sir Guy in self-defense and tricks the sheriff and scares them away. The next problem is that Robin gets captured in St. Mary's Church and thrown in a dungeon. The solution is that Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet and Little John frees him. The last problem is Robin's cousin tricks Robin and lets his blood and never closes the cut. The resolution is he dies with peace in his heart because Robin begs Little John not to harm the nuns.
I would recommend this book to certain kinds of kids who can handle the happiness and the suffering in this book. The maps were helpful to me because they had information about where things were happening. The diagrams were helpful to me because they told about the cycle of families in the Middle Ages and what kind of jobs the kids did when they grew up.