THE HORNBOWER SAGA: CAPTAIN HORNBLOWER

C.S. Forester, Folio Society

This second presentation set from the Folio Society contains four novels – Hornblower & the Atropos, The Happy Return, A Ship of the Line and Flying Colours – all of which display Forester’s inspiration at its vigorous best. The three last-named were the first of the series to be written (1937-38) and achieved instant success. A weekend’s binge-reading left me revelling in the quality and variety of Forester’s writing; from the exhilarating canal-side gallop that opens the Atropos, through the subterfuge of The Happy Return, carnage and courage in A Ship of the Line. Bernard Cornwell’s introductions are excellent. A supremely covetable set.