Lieutenant Hornblower
It's been quiet lately, so I thought about starting a new topic for people who has read "Lieutenant Hornblower".
The first impression of the book was, wow! A new perspective towards everything, as it is written in Bush's view. It is a smart choice for Forester, to bring us "fresh" outlook on Horatio, as in other books we'll learn how he sees himself and now we can read how other's might see him. :mrgreen:
That is perhaps why I find the book the most, how would I put it, sunniest book I've read so far, without Hornblower putting himself down at times...
Only we can imagine how he'll mock himself about the flying fish he was so happy to see that he showed his admiration while Bush was present (to unintentionally put HH down)
"Damn it, why did I let myself go like that: of course there are FLYING FISH why didn't I think of that. Bush must think I'm an idiot now. I am so bad." Yet later on, when he's friends with Bush he doesn't even try to hide his joy over an pineapple. :cool: That's so lovely.
It's also very entertaining to read how Hornblower actually frustrates people with his quest towards the utmost coolness, so to speak, of trying to keep himself in total control all the time.
...And it also has the hilarious little "celebration" scene, which was left out of the movie (because it wouldn't have fitted in with the Kennedy plotline); Bush singing "for he's a jolly good fellow" for his admiration for Hornblower :love:
This how much I remember for now. I'll fetch my notes (again pages of them!) later, I think I even draw something while reading, to the back of an "renowate your home" flyer.
I haven't picked this one up yet. I'll have to take a look and the library and join you in reading, Painajainen. Your assessement of seeing Hornblower through Bush's eyes makes it sound quite a change from Midshipman Hornblower. I wonder what made Forrester do that?
Maybe Forester was trying something different?
You know, Mutiny was the first (or rather half of Mutiny) movie I saw on TV, and back then I actually thought that Bush was the main character as I didn't even know the name of the series I was watching (I thought I was watching the Count of Monte Cristo until there was too many sailors in it :mrgreen: )
Reading the book it almost makes sense as Bush is the main character there, even though it is Hornblower who's pulling the strings.
I really recommend the book, there are some very cute little scenes there that really makes one's warm feelings towards Horatio warmer still...
I've just finished reading this book I find that William Bush is a lot sterner than he is in the tv series. I discovered that Wellards first name was Henry and the way he died was really sad, Bush read in a newspaper that he had drowned whilst delivering a message in a rowing boat during a storm so sad!!.
I discovered that Wellards first name was Henry and the way he died was really sad, Bush read in a newspaper that he had drowned whilst delivering a message in a rowing boat during a storm so sad!!.
It is! I mean, of course I want to know what happened to him but that is a very harsh way to tell it. I think he must have died a hero, the adventures he had after Renown
I finally got hold of the book and am starting Chapter Three. It would be interesting to know if Forester commented anywhere on why he used Bush as the main character. Maybe because his readers already knew Hornblower, using Bush gives them and him as the author a different perspective of HH and it gives a chance to know Bush from the inside out. Since he is to be HH's best friend, does getting to know Bush more deeply bring a lot to the relationship in later books.
I It would be interesting to know if Forester commented anywhere on why he used Bush as the main character. Maybe because his readers already knew Hornblower, using Bush gives them and him as the author a different perspective of HH and it gives a chance to know Bush from the inside out. Since he is to be HH's best friend, does getting to know Bush more deeply bring a lot to the relationship in later books.
He tells it in "Hornblower Companion" which I must thank :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: fishforit (I will I will post another message to tell the whole story and the lovely lovely lovely another surprises she sent me) for sending it to me...
It is a literacy issue for Forester, if I understood right. He did want to have another perspective. He wanted someone else to observe what was going on there.
But again, Forester, like his Hornblower, is a rather secretive character and even though he is saying in the "Companion" that it tells the story behind Hornblower, he leaves very much lying in the shadows.