This instalment of Horatio Hornblowers adventures is yet another great read despite it having very little action at sea. It is the story of Hornblower’s escape from French captivity and almost all the action is concerned with his travels across France.
I found Hornblower’s manic depression to be somewhat less annoying than in previous books, possibly because I have finally figured out that that is what Forester is writing in Hornblower’s character. Okay so I admit I’m a bit slow there; looking back it now seems obvious to me that Hornblower suffers from what we now call bipolar disorder and that makes much of his behaviour and the combination of his brilliance and self-doubt much more understandable and acceptable to me as a reader. I actually feel a little ashamed that I found this aspect of his behaviour so annoying and only accepted it when I (finally) figured out what it was all about. Strangely I am now so convinced that this is what Forester was writing that I’m surprised I have seen so little mention of it in reviews, Wikipedia etc.
Regardless, this was another excellent fast paced (I read it in a single sitting) story from this master of the age of sail, despite there being very little in the way of sails! It is, however, still set mostly on water; just rivers instead of seas this time. Highly recommended.
4/5 stars
I found Hornblower’s manic depression to be somewhat less annoying than in previous books, possibly because I have finally figured out that that is what Forester is writing in Hornblower’s character. Okay so I admit I’m a bit slow there; looking back it now seems obvious to me that Hornblower suffers from what we now call bipolar disorder and that makes much of his behaviour and the combination of his brilliance and self-doubt much more understandable and acceptable to me as a reader. I actually feel a little ashamed that I found this aspect of his behaviour so annoying and only accepted it when I (finally) figured out what it was all about. Strangely I am now so convinced that this is what Forester was writing that I’m surprised I have seen so little mention of it in reviews, Wikipedia etc.
Regardless, this was another excellent fast paced (I read it in a single sitting) story from this master of the age of sail, despite there being very little in the way of sails! It is, however, still set mostly on water; just rivers instead of seas this time. Highly recommended.
4/5 stars
