Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (published 1950) is a Horatio Hornblower novel written by C. S. Forester.

Hornblower starts his career in the Royal Navy as an inexperienced midshipman and gradually finds that he is actually talented in seamanship.

This novel, like the last of the Hornblower series Hornblower in the West Indies is more a collection of short stories (see below) than a novel with single story arc.

Hornblower and the Even Chance

In this story, a gawky and sea-sick Hornblower comes aboard his first ship, the Justinian. He immediately earns the contempt of the crew, particularly a man named Simpson, who is "diabolically clever at making other people's lives a burden to them." Hornblower, extremely unhappy already, is particularly affected and becomes suicidal. He takes the first opportunity for death presented to him by challenging Simpson (a better gunman) to a duel. This is frustrated by the captain, who tells Hornblower not to fight any more duels. Horatio is transferred to the command of Edward Pellew.

Hornblower and the Cargo of Rice

In The Cargo of Rice, aboard the Indefatigable, the newly situated Horatio Hornblower comemdeers the French ship Marie Galante carrying a cargo of rice below, by order of Captain Pellew after engaging it in battle. It is Horblower's first time as an independent since coming aboard the Indefatigable. They are to take the captured French ship and her crewman to an British Port where he is to receive his next orders. Things tend go smoothly for Hornblower and his four crewman, until one of the crewman (Matthews) informs him that the ship is taking in water from somewhere. Hornblower barely investigates the matter and matters worsen when they discover the ship is sinking. Their efforts to keep the Marie Galante afloat by discarding the rice which had taken on moisture, but to no avail. Hornblower commands all hands to abandon ship. Hornblower, his crew, and the French Prisoners are out at sea in their life boats.

Hornblower and the Penalty of Failure

In the Penalty of Failure, Hornblower and his crew are still out at sea, between British and French ports. The captain of the recently sunken Marie Galante pleads to Hornblower to release him and his men upon arriving at a French port and promises safe passing for Hornblower and his crew. The Midshipman promptly rejects the Captain's pleading in spite of their bleak situation. Not too soon afterward, Hornblower and his crew are caught by French battle ship named pique commanded by Captain Nueville. They become prisoners of War. Hornblower devises a plan to get himself and the crew off the French battle boat; He sets aflame to the paint locker which immediately attracts the attention of the Indefatigable. The British ship ultimately overpowers the Pique and Captain Nueville and his crew surrender. Hornblower's fears of reprimand for losing the Galante are put out quickly by the offhanded dismissal of Captain Pellew. However, instead of taking credit for the fire, Hornblower claims there was a spontaneous combustion in the paint locker, as way of punishing himself for losing the Marie Galante in the first place.

Hornblower and the Man who Felt Queer

hornblower still aboard the indefatigable is called to dinner by cptn. pellew who orders hornblower amoung severl other officers to capture the papillon with Mr eccles in command who lays out his plan to have Mr. Soames as the cutter, Mr. Chadd and Mallory with control fo the 1st and 2nd gigs

More Information

ISBN 0316289094 (1^st ed. June 1, 1950)