I absolutely adore the Hornblower Saga, but try as I might, I've not yet been able to get all the way through this one. This makes me sad. :( ( )

A collection of short adventures: Napoleon is securely in exile, and Admiral Hornblower is in charge of the Royal Navy in the Caribbean. It is the end of the pirate age and in the midst of the rebellions of the Spanish colonies. It's a series of short stories without a larger theme, but they're well-written and worth reading.

While I'm sorry to see the incredible Hornblower saga reach its conclusion, I can't say I'm sorry to see Admiral Hornblower sail off into the sunset. This one had way too much "Your Excellencies", "Your Lordships", and "My Dearest's" in it for me. Not getting to see the old Hornblower actually in command of a ship was sad - he was such a great Captain and Commander. I miss seeing him in the middle of the action, he's much more of a figurehead in this one. Overall, I must give the entire series four stars, with "Lieutenant Hornblower" and "Flying Colours" achieving five stars. ( )

This was one of the most dramatic Hornblower novels of the series. I quite enjoyed it. ( )

The last of Forester's Hornblower novels and the first that I've read. An easy read about a time and place that I've never thought about. The story lines and the characters are not the most complicated but the settings and descriptions of action were well done. My father read these as a kid and actually gave me a couple years ago but I never read them. I was given this copy a few years ago after turning MM onto Raymond Chandler. Well worth the read and good enough to start the first book of the series and to see how that reads. ( )