‘My name is Hornblower,’ he quavered at length.
‘What an infernal piece of bad luck for you,” said a second man at the table, with a complete absence of sympathy.
Ernest Hemingway and Winston Churchill deemed C.S. Forester’s Hornblower Saga highly recommendable. I can’t disagree with them, so far at least. I’ve read the first in the series in my continued efforts to find good literature for those junior high boys that read voraciously and quickly run out of viable options. I think I’ve succeeded in finding another one to recommend!
Sailing for adventure!
The main character of the series, Horatio Hornblower, interested me from page one. He’s awkward, gawky, nervous, pasty white . . . oh and he’s seasick. Seasick and pursuing a career on the high seas? Yes, indeed, the poor chap. Nevertheless, despite his uninspiring introduction to the crew of the Justinian, I found myself sympathizing with his plight as a young man trying to find his way in the world.
I have never been a teenage boy of course, but I imagine Hornblower isn’t all that different from the young men I know. The transition from boyhood to manhood is likely similar to the transition every girl makes into womanhood, with a few key differences. We can see those differences highlighted in Hornblower’s adventures on the sea and I think that’s why this novel will be appealing to those young men in your life who are still a little clumsy, but who are growing in maturity.
While Mr. Midshipman Hornblower is not a comedy, I found myself chuckling at the sometimes self-inflicted plights of Hornblower in the first few chapters. He’s young and just a bit cocky despite his tendency towards anxiousness. He idolizes honor at times and responds in certain circumstances accordingly, seeking the approval and respect of the men around him. That sounds familiar doesn’t it? Horatio Hornblower begins his service in the British royal navy in the 1790s with experiences that vastly differ from boys in 2024. But the basic principles of life and maturity haven’t changed much.
I have expounded on my frustration with the YA department of the library plenty. Modern authors and their teenage heroes/heroines leave me with a bitter taste in my mouth (and a good understanding of what I don’t want to see in a teenage character.) Horatio Hornblower is a breath of fresh air. Rather than the overconfident, individualistic, entirely-too-adult-for-his-age nonsense character of YA fame and TikTok glory, we meet a young man who is characterized by trepidation and low confidence.
Before you start thinking along the usual lines of our society’s selfish pre-occupation with self-esteem and an anxiety free life, Hornblower gives us an example of how we should actually respond when we lack confidence. It’s really simple actually – you just keep going. There can’t be hesitation on the high seas when you find yourself in the middle of the Spanish fleet in a dense fog, or take your lieutenant’s examination, or realize that your leaking boat is full of rice. There’s no time for a self-help book, a therapy session, or a mental-health day. Life goes on. Does Hornblower immediately find freedom from his struggle with fear and anxiety? No, not at all. But we see a slow progression of growth as he continues to experience life at sea and deal with his personal struggles in each new circumstance. Quite simply, we see a young man mature into true manhood through both the day to day experiences and extraordinary trials of life.
This is more than a fun read.
I found myself increasingly upset that I didn’t think to write down all the new or unfamiliar words that I ran across as I read Mr. Midshipman Hornblower. Most unfortunately, I missed the opportunity to expand and develop my vocabulary. However, I want to encourage those homeschool moms and families out there – you can turn a book like this into spelling and vocabulary lessons. The language is understandable enough that you can read the book without a dictionary, but I want to begin to recommend taking the time to make sure you actually know the true meaning of words. We live in a culture that does not prize literacy as it used to. But we don’t have to follow the culture! We can avail ourselves of opportunities to grow in our knowledge and understanding of our own language.
Not only is there a chance to learn new words, but this book is a wonderful way to explore the physical build of a ship. I do not know my directions on a ship or the names of each piece and portion of a ship. But this book provides ample opportunity to learn everything about these amazing pieces of architecture. Find yourself a map of a ship and use it as a reference as you or your child reads. It will help you so much, and just might solidify those minor details in your mind for future reads or even general conversation. 🙂
To read or not to read.
Without any hesitation, I offer Mr. Midshipman Hornblower as the next high-seas adventure for your consumption (or that of your teenage book nerds). The adventures, though not swashbuckling, offer a fascinating glimpse into life at sea and the daily grind of a young man at the tail end of the 1700s. I do recommend this book for more mature readers (teens and up, unless your elementary students are particularly precocious) who are okay with some slower pacing. Though this isn’t a fast-paced read, Hornblower is kept on his toes by circumstances varying in their nature and complexity and I found that an enjoyable alternative to a faster paced plot.
There are occasional light curse words and only one brief moment that is slightly suggestive. It is quick and Hornblower himself quickly takes his eyes away from a woman’s legs (the moment is not meant to be sensual, it happens at an important point when the emphasis is on the secrecy of papers, not the female body). That aside, this is a clean novel that does not glorify anything dirty, immoral, or crude. A few laughs, several moments of moral strength, and interesting stories in each chapter keep the reader entertained. Take the time to add it to your reading list!
Until next time, go read a good book!
