We'll start a new thread for each book, about three weeks apart, starting the end of this month. But the discussion can be a free-for-all. Each book will have it's own thread so as other people come along, they can zero in on the book they're currently reading and not be "spoiled" by discussion of other books still unread. Each and every thread will be full of spoils so no one go into a thread until they are ready! With that understood by every member, there will be no need to shroud comments with whatever spoil code this forum offers (if there is any). There are plenty of non-fiction books out there that we can discuss too. One is already mentioned, plus there's a "Companion" book written by Forester. There are also plenty of books relating all sorts of historical matters relative to the Age of Sail. I suggest anyone not familiar with nautical terms get their hands on one because Forester does not define the terms!! I was a bit lost in the translation when reading the first few books.

That sounds good, each book having it's own thread Just re-loaned, (not Ioaned, loaned :) the mr. midshipman! And typewrited the reader notes to computer. Can't wait to share thoughts with you! Maybe later we could have threads for comparing books, I mean threads like "Mr. Midshipman/Lietenant/etc." So that we could then discuss several books and the differences between them. But I am ahead the matter now... It might be good to make a "Read this" topic too so that people won't accidentally pop into these spoiler topics. And to make a list for in what order and when to read the books.

Hi All, Just thinking about suggestions made already regarding technical vocabulary in the HH series... Forgive me if you are familiar with this book already, but if not, it's a great companion for wading through vocabulary: A Sea of Words --by Dean King. It was written specifically for the O Brien series (e.g. Master and Commander), but it works just as well for HH series. Julia

Julia, thanks for the tip! I hadn't known about that book (don't know if others did) and I would certainly love to have a good terminology companion to the side of the HH novels. I already bought the Hornblower Companion by Forester, and the maps & such are really interesting, but since English isn't my native language, I'd love to be able to learn more about the nautical terms. I have some basic understanding of them by now (I'm on my second round of the whole series in English), but some of them are very vague still.

:dance :breakdance :woohoo . My friend found the Making of....... book and he's GIVEN it to me! I love it. Such a sweet, young innocent Welshboy......... :love2:

I only wish I could be so lucky. I'd even dance a reel. Dance! Dance! Congrats, Stevie. Gaffer's Girl

:applaud: Stevie! Although I think you are even more excited about the new smilies!! :mrgreen:

I'm really looking forward to the book discussions! :applaud: By the way, for anyone in need of quick access to nautical terms, here's a good glossary of nautical terminology. Another good site for general background of the navy of the time is Broadside. If you're looking to purchase a book which gives the ins and outs of Hornblower's navy from rank to ships to tactics, the best book out there for beginning naval history buffs is Nicholas Blake and Richard Lawrence's The Illustrated Companion to Nelson's Navy. It uses examples from nautical fiction (in other words, they talk A LOT of Hornblower) to launch into discussions of the real navy of the period. It's very basic, easy to understand, but remarkably thorough. -uHf

Thanks for the suggestions, uHf. I've already bookmarked the sites that you listed - I've just started re-reading HH books and it'll be good to be able to access them quickly - and Nicholas Blake and Richard Lawrence's book.

:mrgreen: