Hornblower During the Crisis

(Originally posted to Instagram on June 1st, 2024)

When talking up the Hornblower series to people, I’ve always been careful to make the point that while Hornblower is a great character, he’s not terribly Gary Stu-ey. Sure he’s smart, brave, clever, and a good sailor, but he’s also emotionally dead, conniving, and gets seasick easily. His career moves forward through a lot of luck, but he also endures a lot of hardship because of misfortune.

Anyway (spoilers), in this book he takes part in an espionage action that leads to Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar, and he helps Napoleon III get to France in time for the election that elevates him to French leadership. So yeah, it was pretty Gary Stu throughout. In the book’s defense, this was chronologically the last Hornblower book written. Forrester died before it was finished–the big adventure gets hinted at, but we never really see it take place (because it was never written). For what it is, it’s a fun swashbuckler with some good high seas action. It’s also very short (though I don’t think it was intended to be) and so it doesn’t overstay its welcome.

I say give it a read. It’s fun.

Also, if anyone’s wondering why my reading has fallen off this month, I finally beat Factorio (pictures below are the victory screens). If you want to be productive in any way, don’t buy it. It’s very fun and very attention-consuming.