Product Description
Children love to listen to stories and now their favorite DK children's books are available in convenient book and CD packages. With more than 60 minutes of audio on each CD, these packages will be favorites of children and parents alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

It Was O.K.
Having found the King Arthur and Dracula's in this series good, this Robin Hood showcases mideival life very well. I liked it.

Endless hours of reading
The book I'm going to review is Robin Hood by Neil Philip. The setting of the story is Nottingham, England.The characters are Robin Hood, Marian, Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, Lord Fitzwalter and King Richard.Robin wants freedom, Marian and his title and lands back.His first big problem is the sheriff wants to kill him.So he harasses the sheriff.Robin gets 30 comrades to help him and lives in Sherwood Forest.The king comes back and gives Robin's title, lands and Marian back to him.
The new problem is King Richard is dead and Robin is now an outlaw.Robin kills Sir Guy in self-defense and tricks the sheriff and scares them away.The next problem is that Robin gets captured in St. Mary's Church and thrown in a dungeon.The solution is that Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet and Little John frees him.The last problem is Robin's cousin tricks Robin and lets his blood and never closes the cut.The resolution is he dies with peace in his heart because Robin begs Little John not to harm the nuns.
I would recommend this book to certain kinds of kids who can handle the happiness and the suffering in this book.The maps were helpful to me because they had information about where things were happening.The diagrams were helpful to me because they told about the cycle of families in the Middle Ages and what kind of jobs the kids did when they grew up.

Read About the Amazing Robin Hood
The setting and characters of Robin Hood are unforgettable.The setting of the story takes place in northern and central England. The story mostly takes place in Sherwood Forest.Robin Hood is the main character in the story. He is a nice man who cares about the poor and gives them money when he sees them. Maid Marian is Robin Hood's fiancée.Little John is a big strong man who helps Robin Hood on his journeys. Friar Tuck is one of Robin's friends. King Richard is the king of England. Sir Guy of Gisborne is one of Robin's enemies who does the sheriff's dirty work. The Sheriff of Nottingham is a cruel person who doesn't like Robin and tries to kill him when Robin turns to an outlaw.

The problem is that Robin is declared an outlaw.Worman is Robin's treacherous steward who then lies about Robin setting a plot to kill the king.At Robin's wedding the sheriff of Nottingham says that the prince has declared him an outlaw.Now Robin loses his land and title and he's living in the greenwood and can't marry Maid Marian.There are four things that Robin wants. First, he wants to marry Maid Marian. Second, he wants his title and his land back. Third, he doesn't want to be an outlaw. Finally, he wants all of the people to stop treating the peasants badly.

The solution ends up being really complex. Robin runs into the forest and puts together a group of merry men. Then he writes a letter to the sheriff to threaten him in his own castle. Then the king returns and restores everything that Robin had lost when he became an outlaw.Maid Marian and Robin get married. When King Richard dies, King John takes his place and Robin becomes an outlaw again.When Robin goes back to the greenwood he starts to fight Sir Guy and kills him. After, Robin threatens the sheriff, saying that if he will not leave the woods, he will kill him. Later, he goes to St. Mary's to confess his sins but he is betrayed and captured. When the merry men hear the news they go to the prison and free Robin.

Robin goes to the Kirklees Priory because he knows that Maid Marian and his cousin are there. His cousin lets Robin's blood and she never seals the wound because she is in the pay of the sheriff. There he dies in Maid Marian's arms.

I recommend this book for several reasons. The first reason is the pictures and the notes that Neil Phillip put in there. I also liked it because of all of the action in the book.Some other features are the diagrams of the castles and people and the CD to read along. Finally, when you listen to the CD, you can hear the sound effects of swords and the birds singing and how the voices of different people sound. This is why I recommend this book to other kids.

endless hours of entertainment for your children
My children- 3 & 5 years- love this- they can actually listen to it multiple times a day and have started acting out and reciting bits from it- so cute!We actually use the cd alone- as it's on lone from their cousin who still has the book.The reader does have an accent ( which makes it a bit more authentic) but you may have to help them identify some of the words that sound different.The language is quite sophisticated but the story keeps them enthralled.Great for rainy afternoons, or tired ones- and great for a tv alternative.We also bring our stories on cd in the car for trips or just to make the errands less painful!I highly recommend this and any of the others in the Read & Listen series.

Classic story, well told.
Like most people, I've heard the Robin Hood story many times. No real surprise there! What makes this rendition unique is Mr. Gruffudd's wonderful voice, the book that doubles as a resource, and, of course, the wonderful story of a man more determined to do what was "right" over what was "legal".

Mr. Gruffudd just has a way with British accents. Robin's band of men apparently come from all over the UK - Cornwall, Irish, King's English accents (plus more that I couldn't easily identify) were used. And of course, Mr. Gruffudd's natural Welsh accent told the story.

The book was great. Lots of pictures, lot of sidebars of information. From obsolete jargon to modern pictures of people in costume, these pages in the book help to explain a lot.

The story, of course, is a classic. I would caution parents of sensitive children to consider editing the last chapter or so. Instead of ending the story with the "happily ever after" once Robin and Marian are married, this book follows Robin until his death at the hand of his cousin, who betrays him.

All in all, it was highly enjoyable. A definite recommend! ... Read more

Product Description
Read by Ioan Gruffudd Two cassettes Running time: 2 hours ... Read more

Customer Reviews (55)

lieutenant hornblower
if you enjoy the hornblower saga,you will definately enjoy this.this was an audiobook and it was very enjoyable listening to it while going down the road.

Liked hearing about Hornblower from another character's point of view
This is the second book in the series and definitely has me hooked.This was told from the point of view of his friend Mr. Bush, whereas the first book was told from Hornblower's perspective.It really helps me to understand his character better looking at him from another perspective.I shall go on to the next book in the series with great interest.Highly recommended for a tale of action and adventure with a man with many outstanding characteristics, yet still human.

Disagree with Very Poor Reader
I listened to the CD audio book and found the reader to be excellent.His voice was clear and easy to understand.It's a shame 1 star was given by "Very Poor Reader" for such a wonderful book.I found it interesting that the high sea adventure was told through the eyes of Lt. Hornblower's friend, Lt. Bush.I read Mr. Midshipman Hornblower and gave that 4 stars. Lieutenand Hornblower flowed much more smoothly and had greater character development and rates a solid 5 stars.

Very Poor Reader
Nicolas Coster may be a very good actor but he is not a good reader.I have enjoyed many stories on Audio CD's as I travel the highways.Anyone who listens to Audio CD's knows that a good reader needs to be understood and an excellent reader can consistantly change his/her voice to identify the key players of the story.Jim Dale and the Harry Potter series are an excelent example of this. Nicolas Coster does neither.He acts the part he is reading but cannot change his voice to reflect the character who is doing the speaking.When Hornblower or Bush are contemplative his reading is a wisper almost to the point of silence.I find myself unconsiously turning up the volume and replaying that portion of the story.Then Hornblower or Bush act with a "shouted command" causing me almost to loose control of my auto as the words are blasted into my vehicle.It has become a chore to listen to this wounderfull series which I have read 3 times and will never buy another Nicolas Coster read audio.

LIEUTENANT HORNBLOWER by C. S. Forester
Lieutenant Hornblower (1952) is C. S. Forester's second Hornblower novel chronologically, seventh by publication. Horatio Hornblower, now a lieutenant, is serving on HMS Renown under the mad Captain Sawyer, who sees mutiny all around him. At the same time, Renown is sent to the West Indies on a mission to take a Spanish base. Following the resolution of these dramas, Hornblower's career is threatened by the Peace of Amiens.

This novel introduces William Bush, Hornblower's fellow officer, who becomes Hornblower's good friend and who appears in most of the chronologically succeeding novels. Bush is a phlegmatic character, and a thoroughly competent, if unimaginative, officer. Lieutenant Hornblower is told from his perspective rather than Hornblower's. This spares the reader all of Hornblower's inner drama, self-criticism and inadequacies, and Hornblower comes off (through Bush's eyes) as slightly eccentric but purely heroic.

Forester does a fantastic job of character development here (much better than in the previous Mr. Midshipman Hornblower). Lieutenants Bush, Buckland and Hornblower are all well done and well fleshed out - each man has distinctly unique strengths, weaknesses, desires, concerns, and personality. Forester gives the reader some particular insight into Hornblower's character at the end of the novel, when, because of the cessation of hostilities, Hornblower must earn his living as a gambler. The man always does the charitable thing, the caring thing, and yet he does it not because he necessarily cares genuinely, but because he is bent on mastering himself, and, as far as possible, overcoming the weakness of his humanity.

Lieutenant Hornblower has an excellent mix of action, drama and suspense. It seems like the use of archaic naval jargon is less here than it was in Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, but perhaps I've gotten used to it, or, perhaps, the superior storytelling has marginalized its distractive impact. Lieutenant Hornblower also has several of those great little moments, those quirky, memorable instances that define both a character and a book.

In all, Lieutenant Hornblower is an entertaining, well-written book, and as good a work in this genre as you're likely to find.
... Read more

Product Description
A shy and lonely seventeen-year-old, Horatio Hornblower embarks on a memorable careerin Nelson's navy as a midshipman on board H.M.S. Justinian.In action adventure and battle he is forged into one of the most formidable junior officers in the service. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

The adventures continue
I'm truly hooked on this series.Hornblower is a character that thinks outside of the box.I always look forward to see what ingenious way he will resolve an issue.His personal life is interesting for a fictional character.He doesn't fit with many stereotypes that I typically see in novels.

I highly recommend this series.The books seem to get better as the series progresses.I already have my hands on the next book and look forward to reading it.

A very poor reader.
Nicolas Coster may be a very good actor but he is not a good reader.I have enjoyed many stories on Audio CD's as I travel the highways.Anyone who listens to Audio CD's knows that a good reader needs to be understood and an excellent reader can consistantly change his/her voice to identify the key players of the story.Jim Dale and the Harry Potter series are an excelent example of this. Nicolas Coster does neither.He acts the part he is reading but cannot change his voice to reflect the character who is doing the speaking.When Hornblower or Bush are contemplative his reading is a wisper almost to the point of silence.I find myself unconsiously turning up the volume and replaying that portion of the story.Then Hornblower or Bush act with a "shouted command" causing me almost to loose control of my auto as the words are blasted into my vehicle.It has become a chore to listen to this wounderfull series which I have read 3 times and will never buy another Nicolas Coster read audio.

Entertainment Deluxe
The Hornblower series are such entertaining reading.I have gotten friends and family hooked on these books and we are reading them all.I like getting books from Amazon that are used.Many are just like new and it is so inexpensive to have the delivered right to my door.I remember my parents reading these books many years ago when they were in the Saturday Evening Post as serial stories.They enjoyed them then and I am enjoying them now. Anyone who likes history and adventure will love these books.In particular, they seem to be stories that men like to read.

HORNBLOWER AND THE HOTSPUR by C. S. Forester
Hornblower and the Hotspur (1962) is C. S. Forester's third Hornblower novel chronologically, tenth by publication. Horatio Hornblower has, more out of pity than anything else, gone ahead and married the rather pathetically devoted Maria, his landlady's daughter. But England is mobilizing again for war with France, and Hornblower is immediately put in command of the sloop Hotspur and sent out in advance of an English blockade of Brest, whereupon Hornblower leads various raids against the French.

The running subplot here involves Hornblower's feelings toward his wife and their coming child. When he marries her, he does not love her. While he is at sea, he begins to develop affectionate feelings toward her and the child, although he believes these to be insincere. Amusingly, given Hornblower's inwardly-professed feelings toward Maria coupled with the months on end he spends at sea, they make a remarkably fecund couple.

This is Hornblower's first command, and it is interesting to see him bring his highly self-critical nature to this position. He captains with his usual great diligence and initiative, but he is rarely satisfied with his performance, regardless of the results, and he berates himself over the smallest failings. At times, he takes this frustration out on his men; in all he makes a somewhat mercurial captain. But all this is part of what makes Hornblower such an interesting character - this is a man who, despite numerous successes and fairly rapid promotion, thinks very poorly of himself, and is self-deprecating almost to a career-damaging degree.

As usual, Forester does a solid job of mixing action and drama. Other than a few sections where Hornblower and his crew get bogged down in the minutiae of eighteenth century navigation (which is a challenge and a triumph for Hornblower but isn't very interesting for modern land-based audiences), the pace is quite good.

Aside from Hornblower, the only other character to receive any significant amount of Forester's attention is Lieutenant Bush, but Bush does little other than faithfully follow his orders and do his duty, and he comes off as disappointingly flat here, particularly compared to his treatment in the previous Lieutenant Hornblower. Hornblower's wife, Maria, is a doting caricature in her infrequent appearances.

In all, Hornblower and the Hotspur is a very solid, very entertaining entry in the Hornblower saga, and one that advances his story nicely.

Great Story
You are right there with Horatio in all his battles and adventures. I really enjoyed this book and all the others in the series. ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Bards of the Cornish Gorseth, Bards of the Gorsedd, Rowan Williams, Bardic Name, Malcolm Arnold, A. L. Rowse, Ioan Gruffudd, Charles Thomas, Mary Hopkin, Connie Fisher, Nick Darke, Gareth Edwards, Bryn Terfel, Ron Davies, Ray Gravell, Philip Payton, John Langdon Bonython, Arthur Quiller-Couch, Nicholas Williams, Gorseth Kernow, Henry Jenner, Iolo Morganwg, Peter Berresford Ellis, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Robert Croft, Gilbert Hunter Doble, Charles G. Henderson, Matthew Rhys, Richard Trant, Gareth Alban Davies, Kenneth Hamilton Jenkin, Richard Jenkin, Peter Lanyon, Garry Tregidga, Cledwyn Hughes, Ieuan Evans, Robert Morton Nance, Brenda Wootton, John Coulson Tregarthen, Emrys Jones, Richard Rutt, L. C. R. Duncombe-Jewell, Thomas Taylor, Geoffrey Crawshay, William Henry Paynter, Mick Paynter, Joseph Parry, Goursez Vreizh, Vanessa Beeman, John Kendall-Carpenter, Jim Wearne, Ken George, Helena Charles, Wilfred Bennetto, Robert Walling, John Bolitho, E. G. Retallack Hooper, Julyan Holmes, Ivan Rabey, Robin Llwyd Ab Owain, Rod Lyon, Tony Snell, Tim Saunders, Eluned Phillips, Haldreyn, Hilary Coleman, Geraint Bowen, Donald Rawe. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 287. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Rowan Douglas Williams (born 14 June 1950) is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the current (104th) Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003. Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and Archbishop of Wales (making him the first Archbishop of Canterbury in modern times not to be appointed from within the Church of England and the first bishop to serve as primate of two provinces of the Anglican Communion) and had spent much of his earlier career as an academic at the Universities of ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=70537 ... Read more

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Chapters: Henry Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare, Ioan Gruffudd, David Jones, Jack Rhapps, Hugh Evans, Leslie Manfield, Don Dearson, Neil Edwards, Vic Crowe, John Roberts, Horace Cumner, Emrys Jones, Ken Leek, Lyn Evans, Jonathan Bryant, Arthur Brown, David Abruzzese, Jackie Williams, Elizabeth Andrews, Gwyn Morgan, Griffith Rhys Jones. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 78. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Ioan Gruffudd (Welsh pronunciation: ; born 6 October 1973) is a Welsh actor. Educated at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he started off in Welsh language productions, then came to international attention as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the film Titanic (1997), and as Lt. John Beales in Black Hawk Down (2001). However, he is probably best known for playing the role of Horatio Hornblower in Hornblower, the British made-for-TV films (19982003) based on C.S. Forester's novels. Gruffudd's recent notable film roles include Lancelot in King Arthur (2004), Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) in Fantastic Four (2005) and the sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), and British slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce in Amazing Grace (2006). He played Tony Blair in W. (2008). Gruffudd was born on 6 October 1973 in the village of Llwydcoed near the town of Aberdare, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Mid Glamorgan, south Wales. His family later moved to Cardiff. Gruffudd's parents, Peter and Gillian Griffiths, were teachers. His father was headmaster at two Welsh comprehensive schools in South Wales, first at Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari then later at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen. He has two siblings; a brother, Alun, who is two years younger, and a sister, Siwan, who is seven years younger than he is. The popular Welsh name "Ioan" is an equivalent of "John", and "Gruffudd" corresponds ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=402000 ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Ioan Gruffudd, Charlie Brooks, Eve Myles, Hywel Bennett, Josie D'arby, Richard Davies, Christopher Timothy, Geraint Todd, Jan Anderson, Gareth Thomas, Nerys Hughes, Sian Reese-Williams, Andrew Howard, Darren Jeffries, Siwan Morris, Tony Adams, Maria Pride, Hywel Simons, Iona Banks, Brian Hibbard, Adrian Lewis Morgan, Charles Dale, Geraint Owen, Martin Glyn Murray, Nicholas Mcgaughey, Lisa Palfrey, Donna Edwards, Arwyn Davies, Grug Maria, Lauren Phillips. Excerpt:Adrian Lewis Morgan Adrian Lewis Morgan Is a Welsh actor, best known for playing Dr. Jimmi Clay in the BBC soap Doctors . Career Morgan had the earlier role of playing Liam Evans in Holby City and has also played Roger in the London cast of Rent . He trained at The HTV Drama Workshop led by Peter Wooldridge and then at The Royal Welsh College of Music ... Read more

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Chapters: Rowan Williams, Ioan Gruffudd, Mary Hopkin, Connie Fisher, Gareth Edwards, Bryn Terfel, Ron Davies, Ray Gravell, Iolo Morganwg, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Robert Croft, Matthew Rhys, Gareth Alban Davies, Cledwyn Hughes, Ieuan Evans, Emrys Jones, L. C. R. Duncombe-Jewell, Geoffrey Crawshay, Joseph Parry, Robin Llwyd Ab Owain, Eluned Phillips, Geraint Bowen. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 122. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Rowan Douglas Williams (born 14 June 1950) is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the current (104th) Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003. Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and Archbishop of Wales (making him the first Archbishop of Canterbury in modern times not to be appointed from within the Church of England and the first bishop to serve as primate of two provinces of the Anglican Communion) and had spent much of his earlier career as an academic at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford successively. His primacy has been marked by much speculation that the Anglican Communion (of which the Archbishop of Canterbury is symbolic head) is on the verge of fragmentation and by Williams's attempts to keep all sides talking to one another. Williams was born in on 14 June 1950 in Ystradgynlais, Swansea, Wales, into a Welsh-speaking family. He was the only child of Aneurin Williams and Dolphine (Del, Nancy) Morris - Presbyterians who converted to Anglicanism in 1961. He was educated at the state school Dynevor School in Swansea, at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he studied theology, and at Wadham College, Oxford, where he took his DPhil in 1975. He lectured at the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield, West Yorkshire for two years. In 1977...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=70537 ... Read more

Product Description
Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ioan Gruffudd, John Rhys-Davies, Daniel Evans, Rob Brydon, Rhys Ifans, Lisa Lee Dark, Matthew Rhys, Amanda Hale, Windsor Davies, Mark Donovan, Arthur Malet, Myfanwy Talog, Adrian Holmes, William Squire, Sean Carlsen, Andy Secombe. Excerpt:Adrian Holmes Adrian Holmes (born March 31, 1974 in Wrexham and rasied in Vancouver) is an actor. Mostly appearing on television, he has made minor appearances in Smallville and the TV series of Highlander . He has done many TV roles and cameos and minor appearances in movies like Like Mike 2 for example. He loaned his voice in the fighting game, Def Jam: Fight for NY as the voice of Bo. He also loaned his voice in the anime, Black Lagoon as Rowan. Filmography Websites (URLs online) A hyperlinked version of this chapter is at Amanda Hale Amanda Hale (born 1982) is a Welsh actress. . She won positive reviews for her performance in The Glass Menagerie at the Apollo Shaftesbury in the West End . Career Hale trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art , graduating in 2005 , and has performed on both stage and screen . At drama school, she won the Awarded Audience Prize and Best Fight Award at the 2003 RADA Prize Fights. She was also nominated for two Evening Standard Awards (the Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer and Best Actress ) in November 2007 for her critically-acclaimed performance as Laura Wingfield in Tennessee Williams ' classic play The Glass Menagerie , at the Apollo Theatre in London . In September 2009 Hale made her NT debut in Our Class , a new play by Tadeusz Slobodzianek and in October 2009 she appeared alongside Robbie Coltrane and Sharon Small in the new three-part ITV1 drama Murderland . Select Credits Year: Title: Role: Notes item 2005: The Importance of Being Earnest : Cecily Cardew: Oxford ... ... Read more

Product Description
Ioan Gruffudd is a Welsh actor. Educated at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he started off in Welsh language productions, then came to international attention as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the film Titanic, and as Lt. John Beales in Black Hawk Down. However, he is probably best known for playing the role of Horatio Hornblower in Hornblower, the British made-for-TV films based on C.S. Forester's novels. Gruffudd's recent notable film roles include Lancelot in King Arthur, Mister Fantastic in Fantastic Four and the sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and British slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce in Amazing Grace. He played Tony Blair in W. ... Read more

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Product Description
From the back cover: "At last here's a full, modern Welsh phrasebook. It's ideal for visitors to Wales who want some genuine contact with the local people. (The book is divided into everyday situations and all phrases are pronounced.) It's also an ideal start for serious learners: there's a skeleton grammar and a good vocabulary. Buy the book and begin to know the true Wales!" Illustrated with black and white photographs. ... Read more

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From A&E boxset. 2nd of 8 movies in the Emmy Award-Winning Series. Running time approx. 1 hour 40 minutes. NTSC. ... Read more

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A shy and lonely seventeen-year-old, Horatio Hornblower embarks on a memorable careerin Nelson's navy as a midshipman on board H.M.S. Justinian.In action adventure and battle he is forged into one of the most formidable junior officers in the service. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

FLYING COLOURS by C. S. Forester
Flying Colours (1938) is C. S. Forester's eighth Hornblower novel by chronology, third by publication; it completes Forester's original story arc. Having been forced to surrender to a French squadron at the end of Ship of the Line, Horatio Hornblower is imprisoned and sent with Lieutenant Bush and his coxswain to Paris to have an example made of him. Most of the novel deals with their attempts to escape France.

Most of Flying Colours takes place on land, making it a refreshing change from the innumerable sea battles that fill every other Hornblower novel. And Forester moves things a long at a fairly good pace. There are a few noticeable conveniences in the plot, but they are not sufficiently egregious as to ruin the story.

The problems Forester had in Ship of the Line with Hornblower being overly loathsome have been alleviated for the most part. Hornblower has escalated his philandering ways, however, but since it should be abundantly clear by now that he is a man of no principle beyond his duty to the Royal Navy, this should hardly come as a great shock to the reader. This fundamental lack of integrity most assuredly has quite a bit to do with his complete inability to be contented with his life, even with things wrapping up in a very tidy manner for him as they do here.

There is a great deal of drama here with Hornblower and his wife Maria, or there should be; Forester leaves it largely untapped. For those who read the Hornblower novels in the order Forester wrote them, Maria has never appeared "on camera," as it were, to this point, and so this is not a big deal. But those who have read them in chronological order are considerably more invested in the character of Maria, and rightly hoped for more. Obviously Forester could not have gone back and changed things in his earlier works, but the end result is that the resolution here is hardly satisfactory. This is the price one pays when one writes out of chronology: the merit of the original works is diminished by later works, which reveal and even create flaws in them.

Flying Colours is a step up from Ship of the Line, and is a mostly satisfactory conclusion to the original Hornblower story arc, which is, on the whole, decent, and which would give way to subsequent superior novels.

A naval fiction author's review
C.S. Forester was the Father of Naval Fiction.Critics of Hornblower portrayed in Flying Colors, have to realize that a "Kings Man" in the Royal Navy had to be just as well versed in life on the coastal areas and rivers as being in mid Atlantic.It comes with the territory.My first novel True Colors, set during the war of 1812 has five major sea battles; but in my second Shadow on the Water, half the story is set on land in Boston, with only two sea battles.As an author who trys to stay true to their plot, it's all about the story; the story; the story.Forester was a great inspiration to me although I always thought Hornblower was a bit too involved in self analysis. Forgive the pun, but whatever floats your boat.
Valerie Roosa
Author: True Colors
Shadow on the Water
A Cross for this Land
Editor of Day Star Art & Publishing

Strange setting for Hornblower
I thought I wasn't going to enjoy this book because it was set mainly on land, but was I wrong. Great story, interesting twists and lots of Hornblower situations make this a winner.

flying colours
I bought this book as a gift for my dad.It arrived in less time than it would have taken me to go out to the book store!GREAT!

A Wonderful Friendship
This is the next Hornblower chronologically, it was not the next one written. Now that the series is completed it makes sense to read it as Hornblower's career progresses in the Royal Navy.

The whole series is a pleasure to read full of action and adventure; with enough time for a little romance.

Get acquainted with one of the most popular characters in modern literature.

After reading this you will be back for more. And that is a wonderful thing.
... Read more

Product Description
A shy and lonely seventeen-year-old, Horatio Hornblower embarks on a memorable careerin Nelson's navy as a midshipman on board H.M.S. Justinian.In action adventure and battle he is forged into one of the most formidable junior officers in the service. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Wooden ships and Iron Men!
"Hornblower and the Atropos" is one of the best of the renowned Hornblower series of novels.Set during the Napoleonic Wars, Captain Horatio Hornblower is given command of the "Atropos" -- a twenty-two gunner that is the smallest vessel in the British Navy which merits a full Captain as skipper.Hornblower is given several responsible missions for the Atropos to undertake, and this is a fabulous story of command, dealing with the unexpected, and all of the problems that a naval or military commander must face.

It is impossible for the discerning reader not to like this wonderful novel.It crackles with authenticity, leaving the reader wanting more.My only complaint is that the "Hornblower" series is not yet available in the USA in Kindle form.I would like very much to own the entire series on Kindle, and I suspect that many Hornblower fans share this desire.

This one is highly recommended and fully merits each of its five stars.RJB.

Still holding my interest
This is the fifth book in the Hornblower series and it continues to keep my attention.Hornblower is now a full captain and is given a small ship with the interesting duty of recovering treasure off the shore of Turkey.As usual, there are several difficulties, but he manages to overcome them with ingenious solutions.

This series has given me a great appreciation for the great complexity of running an early 19th century sailing ship.So many things we take for granted were not available back then and they had to use ingenuity and sheer hard work to make up for the lack of technology.I am so used to our technology that it is an interesting mental exercise to think about how to solve problems such as setting off explosives at a great depth with gunpowder.Blasting caps and plastic explosives were not available back then.

I'm excited to move on to the next book in the series.

Hornblower and the Atropos
Having complete the O'Brien series I decided that Hornblower needed my attention.I haven't been disappointed.If you enjoy a good maritime novel I encourage your attention to C.S. Forester and the Hornblower Series.

Too much fun
This is great reading for anyone with a sense of adventure.This fictional character makes learning about the napoleonic times fun and entertaining.

HORNBLOWER AND THE ATROPOS by C. S. Forester
Hornblower and the Atropos (1953) is C. S. Forester's fifth Hornblower novel chronologically, eighth by publication. Captain Horatio Hornblower, age 29, takes command of the Atropos, the smallest ship in the navy suitable for a post-captain, but before he can sail for sunken treasure, he has to manage his pregnant wife, coordinate Admiral Nelson's funeral procession, and meet the king.

Hornblower continues to be his own worst enemy - he does not know himself. He continues to be heroic and ingenious, but always ascribes to himself the basest of motives, and he is typically wrong in his self-analysis. It is clear to the reader by now that he genuinely loves his family, but when his ship is found to be unready to sail, he considers all the time he has spent with them "wasted."

Much of this novel follows the pattern that Stan Lee used to make his Spider-Man comics so successful - there's always something. Nothing ever goes smoothly, and problems and complications are added with regularity. At the same time, Hornblower is still larger than life. He could fall down the stairs and capture a French frigate.

Hornblower and the Atropos has more humor and more action than the chronologically preceding books; it is also more episodic. And, for a change, this one ends with some unresolved drama. The character spotlight is shined on Hornblower only - Lieutenant Bush is missed, although he can't reasonably be expected to show up everywhere.

On the whole, Hornblower and the Atropos is an action-packed page-turner, and a solid entry in the Hornblower series.
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Product Description
A shy and lonely seventeen-year-old, Horatio Hornblower embarks on a memorable careerin Nelson's navy as a midshipman on board H.M.S. Justinian.In action adventure and battle he is forged into one of the most formidable junior officers in the service. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Hornblower continues to hold my interest
This is the seventh book in the series that I have read.Even though this is the 2nd book written, it is the 7th in the chronology of Hornblower's life.This is the first book that is a cliffhanger, so I have obtained the next book and have begun reading it already.

I really like the technical detail that Forester puts into these novels.I have learned a lot about sailing and really appreciate the great skill it took for men to sail these warships.As an engineer, everything he explains makes sense and helps me appreciate these novels.

Hornblower's character continues to fascinate me.His strengths and weaknesses are a combination that makes one root for him.

I highly recommend this book and I will continue to read the rest of the series.

excellent book
"Ship of the line" is a sequel to "Beat to quarters" and shows the adventures of Hornblower after his coming back to England. He receives the ship of the line "Sutherland" and becomes part of the Mediterranean Squadron under Lady Barbara's husband command. There he performs his duties, as usual, perfectly and becomes a hero.
Excellent book for Hornblower's fans.

Happy
My 23 yr. old son asked for this book for Christmas and was delighted to receive it.What he did not expect is that his 80 yr old Grandfather would be as delighted as he....seems he used to read these stories in the newspaper as a boy.

It arrived promptly from the seller in excellent condition.

SHIP OF THE LINE by C. S. Forester
Ship of the Line (1938), also known as A Ship of the Line, is C. S. Forester's seventh Hornblower novel by chronology, second by publication. Hornblower, who seemingly encounters ridiculous drama every time he gets a new command, takes charge of Sutherland, a ship of the line, then sails off to conduct various raids on the French.

Horatio Hornblower has never been as unsympathetic or unlikable as he is in Ship of the Line. Throughout the series, Forester has made Hornblower a particularly flawed character - that's part of Hornblower's charm. But here, Forester has gone too far - he's made Hornblower a loathsome, pathetic individual. Hornblower is obtuse; he's prone to paranoid inner monologues; he wallows in self-pity; he has no real moral values beyond his duty; he moons about, pining for Lady Barbara; he's racist, law-breaking, self-serving and dishonorable. Forester got a better handle on the character in later novels, but for the modern chronological reader it certainly appears that Hornblower is evolving into a despicable man of low character in his old age.

Most of Ship of the Line is action, but none of Hornblower's adventures in this novel are particularly remarkable. Capture a ship, sink a ship, attack a fort, weather a storm - been there, done that. There's no real plot here; it's just attack, attack, attack. And is Hornblower the only man in the Royal Navy who speaks Spanish? Really? This isn't the first time Forester's given the reader that impression, either. And again, a careful reader who has gone through the series chronologically will notice more events that Forester later retconned.

Ship of the Line is a tremendous disappointment, especially given the superior Hornblower novels Forester wrote after it. It ends with a cliffhanger, so you really can't skip it, but it's easily the worst book in the series to this point in the chronology.

Fantastic story.
You are right there with Horatio in all his battles and adventures. I really enjoyed this book and all the others in the series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

OK...
Ok, so I'm only wondering if Ioan Gruffudd is in this...he's my FAVORITEactor, and could this possibly be written by his mother?But anything thathas Ioan in it is worth buying, I promise!!! ... Read more