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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Starfox" data-source="post: 8972245" data-attributes="member: 2303">I guess Hornblower is an acquired taste. I got some of the books in the middle of the series as present as a kid (translated to my native Swedish). Starting in the middle was probably a good thing - much later the Midshipman bored me too. Maybe they even profited from the translation, as Forester's language in English is quite dry. The stories are engrossing, but it could profit from some modern page count padding, adding personality and atmosphere. And yes, the books do get better, the ones he wrote last are the best. Actually, the parts of these books I enjoy the most are the opening chapters, before Hornblower gets on board his ship, with its exposés of 19C England. Then again, I have read and enjoyed Jane Austen, so tales of Old (upper class) England is something I like. During the war, Forrester wrote a propaganda piece called The Ship. It is set on a Royal Navy cruiser in the Mediterranean and describes a short naval skirmish for the point of view of different characters abord the ship. I found this in the shelves of my parent's summer house and with not much else to read, I read it and quite liked it. This is from before he wrote Hornblower, but he was already an established author.I am on book 6 of the Aubrey/Maturing series by O'Brian and it is pretty much what I requested above and more. Jack Aubrey is a modernized Hornblower. Stephen Maturin, the other main character, is much more than just the ship's doctor, tough, and their relationship is much more than that of commander and commandee - which I won't spoil. But their banter,  the intellectual interests of the time, and relationships are quite interesting. There is a bit in one of the first books that is like Jane Austen, but from the male perspective - I quite enjoyed that. There is plenty of page padding, but very well done. I listen to these on Audible, and I also love the narrator. This series is looong, I am no more than a third into it, but it is standing up well so far.</blockquote>

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