I've read part of the chapter on The Frogs and The Lobsters or The Wrong War for we Americans and found it interesting how the television series accelerated Hornblower's career much faster than the book. By the time of this event, he was acting Lieutenant in the series. In the book while his role as translator is important, his position in the action is not so lofty. Nor does his relationship with Pellew seem to have much significance as Hornblower is assigned to Sophia as they travel to France. The whole scene of a worried and fatherly Pellew watching Hornblower leave the ship, doesn't exist in the book. :weeping Emotionally, on these points, I prefer the series, though I feel the book is probably more realistic. I just find it interesting what the filmmakers decided to change. I haven't reached the end of the chapter, but am thinking Hornblower's emotional breakdown at the end and standing on the mast aren't there either. I love Forester's description of HH's interior life, I washoping for a description of these events. I enjoyed CSF's description of the differences physically and regimentally between the Navy, Edrington's regulars and the French Soldiers of Fortune; and HH's inner conflict between self -confidence and his insecurities. GG

Hey there, book club, how's it going? It's been a while since I read Midshipman so I forgotten a lot of the details (even though I read it ten times!!!), so I'm enjoying your first impressions. He took the tarpaulin from the breech and the tompion from the muzzle, cast off the lashings which secured it, and saw that the swivel moved freely in the socket and the trunnions freely in the crotch. I didn't have a clue what I was reading there. Actually quite poetic, could be James Joyce ... You're right, fishforit, the mundane preparation of the gun becomes poetry when read by itself! For anyone who's worried about the technical talk, I say just keep reading and by the time you're done with the series you'll be an old hand. I learned so much, and it was one of the things I loved about the books. By the end I felt like I could captain a ship myself! My favorite of the stories in Midshipman is actually the Spanish Galleys, maybe because it wasn't really reflected in the series, and so I didn't have any expectations, and also because of Horatio's interaction with the crew. I won't say anything more, in case you haven't gotten that far yet, but here's a hint: I found it interesting how the television series excellerated Hornblower's career much faster than the book. By the time of this event, he was acting Lieutenant in the series. Read on, GG! :happy FloMo

We also learn about Horatio's view on esthetics in the Spanish Galleys!

I've just realised that I finished reading Mr Midshipman Hornblower and I'm half way through Lieutenant Hornblower (I have an omnibus edition, The Young Hornblower, collecting Mr Midshipman Hornblower, Lieutenant Hornblower and Hornblower and the Hotspur). Ok, now I'll try to put my thoughts together about the book to share with you.

Tell us what you think about it, Frances!

The first thing I can say is that I enjoyed it much more than when I read it the first time years ago (so much for the truth of a theory I once heard about not any time is right for a book and you have to ready for it to like a book). I loved the description of HH thoughts and interior life that mostly lacked in the TV series (understandably). More to come.

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Wow! thanks for that, Fishie! :hug The island looks so peaceful and remote. The perfect place to sit and contemplate/write etc. Your pics are lovely!

Thanks, fishforit! Lovely pics of a lovely place.

Thank you, fish!! Postively AWESOME!

Thanks for these wonderful pictures of Ushant, fishforit, and your commentary. You could enjoy lots of "Hornblower holidays" in your area. I've been to Nicaragua, the setting of Beat to Quarters, but that's all. Anyone else? FloMo

Thanks fisforit for sharing this! Beatiful photos! You will find Ushant referred later on the books as well! (Hornblower&Hotspur)

What a fun adventure, Fishforit and thank you for sharing. GG

I was at the library yesterday and I saw the Hornblower books and picked this one up. I thought it would be a fun read. It reminded me of all you girls and I thought I would stop by and check things out. Hope all of you are doing well and that things are going good. Sorry it has been so long. I will try to get on a bit more often. Have a wonderful night!! --Sarah