Mr. Midshipman Hornblower
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| Author | C. S. Forester |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Horatio Hornblower |
| Subject(s) | Napoleonic wars |
| Genre(s) | Historical fiction |
| Publisher | Michael Joseph, London |
| Released | 1950 |
| Media type | Hardcover & paperback |
| Pages | 253 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-316-29060-2 |
| Preceded by | - |
| Followed by | Lieutenant Hornblower (1952) |
Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (published 1950) is a Horatio Hornblower novel written by C. S. Forester.
[edit] Plot introduction
Horatio Hornblower commences his career in the Royal Navy as an inexperienced midshipman in January of 1794. Through a series of challenges and adventures both in and out of combat, Hornblower discovers he is actually talented in both seamanship and leadership.
[edit] Plot summary
This novel, like the last of the Hornblower series Hornblower in the West Indies, is more accurately regarded as a collection of short stories than a novel with single story arc.
[edit] Hornblower and the Even Chance
In this story, a gawky and seasick Hornblower comes aboard his first ship, HMS Justinian. He immediately earns the contempt of the other midshipmen by, among other things, outshining them in their required mathematical studies. The young Hornblower is particularly despised by a midshipman named Simpson, who is bitter and antagonistic as a result of his failure to be promoted to lieutenant. Simpson is "diabolically clever at making other people's lives a burden to them," and Hornblower, extremely unhappy already, is particularly affected and becomes suicidal. He takes the first opportunity for death presented to him by challenging Simpson, a superior gunman, to a duel. Hornblower finds that the most mathematically sound method for the duel is to take an "even chance" by having the duelists select from two pistols, only one of which has been loaded, and taking fire only a few feet apart. This is frustrated by the captain, who tells Hornblower not to fight any more duels and secretly instructs that the officers supervising the duel should ensure that neither pistol be loaded. After neither midshipman dies, Hornblower is transferred to the command of Edward Pellew on HMS Indefatigable after war is declared with France.
[edit] Hornblower and the Cargo of Rice
In The Cargo of Rice, aboard the Indefatigable, the newly situated Midshipman Hornblower commandeers the French ship Marie Galante, carrying a cargo of rice from New Orleans, by order of Captain Pellew after engaging it in battle. It is Hornblower's first time in command of a ship since joining the Royal Navy. He is instructed to take the captured French ship and her crew to a British port where he is to receive his next orders. Sailing is relatively smooth for Hornblower and his four seamen, until one of the crew (Matthews) informs him that the ship is taking on water from somewhere. Hornblower recalls that the Marie Galante was struck below the hull's waterline by a cannonball from the Indefatigable before her capture. Their efforts to keep the Marie Galante afloat, both by discarding the rice, which had taken on moisture, and patching the hole with sail, do not succeed. Hornblower commands all hands to abandon ship and Hornblower's crew and the French prisoners are left at sea in an open boat.
[edit] Hornblower and the Penalty of Failure
In the Penalty of Failure, Hornblower and his crew are still out at sea, between British and French ports. The captain of the recently sunken Marie Galante pleads to Hornblower to release him and his men upon arriving at a French port and promises safe passage for Hornblower and his crew. Hornblower promptly rejects the Captain's pleading in spite of their bleak situation. Not too soon afterward, Hornblower and his crew are caught by a privateer named Pique which was converted from a slave ship. This ship is commanded by Captain Neuville. After becoming a prisoner of war, Hornblower devises a plan to get himself and the crew off the French ship. He sets fire to the paint locker, immediately attracting the attention of the Indefatigable, which is still hunting French vessels in the area. The British ship ultimately overpowers the Pique and Captain Neuville and his crew surrender. Hornblower's fears of reprimand for losing the Maire Galante are quickly extinguished by the offhanded dismissal of Captain Pellew. However, instead of taking credit for the fire, Hornblower claims there was a spontaneous combustion in the paint locker, as way of punishing himself for losing the Marie Galante in the first place.
[edit] Hornblower and the Man who Felt Queer
Upon returning to the Indefatigable, Hornblower is involved with a mission designed by Captain Pellew to take the French corvette Papillon. Hornblower is set to command the Indefatigable's jolly boat. His job in the raid is to board the Papillon after the other boats do, climb the mast and loose the main topsail so the Papillon can sail out to meet the Indefatigable. Before setting out, Hornblower practices his task on the Indefatigable to try and calm his nerves. While reviewing his men prior to shoving off, a man named Hales mentions to Hornblower that feels "a bit queer-like." After the boat crews depart, Hales begins having a fit. Because of the necessity of silence, Hornblower strikes Hales with the tiller of his boat. After boarding the ship, Hornblower and his men complete their duty and loose the topsail, despite the notable lack of foot ropes on the yardarm. During the fighting the jolly boat is lost, with Hales still aboard. The corvette Papillon is taken a prize of the Indefatigable. Hornblower feels bad about the loss of Hales, but is assured by his coxswain, Jackson, that Hales would have never made a decent seaman anyway. Furthermore he is reminded that Captain Pellew and Lieutenant Eccles would not hold the loss of the jolly boat against him.
[edit] Hornblower and the Man Who Saw God
[edit] Hornblower the Frogs, and the Lobsters
[edit] Hornblower and the Spanish Galleys
The Indefatigable was lying at anchor in the Bay of Cadiz at the time when Spain made peace with France. Hornblower happened to be midshipman of the watch, and it was he who called the attention of lieutenant Chadd to the approach of the eight oared pinnace, with the red and yellow of Spain dropping at the stern.
[edit] Hornblower and the Examination for Lieutenant
After the Indefatigable comes into port at Gibraltar, Acting-Lieutenant Hornblower reports to the Santa Barbara where he and others are to take their examination for lieutenant. When asked a question by one of the captains conducting the examination, Hornblower freezes up and would have failed the examination but an alarm of cannon shots interrupts the examination--Fire ships have been sent by the enemy in an attempt to destroy the British ships at Gibraltar. Hornblower and Captain Foster, one of the examining captains, take heroic action and prevent a disaster for the British, and jump in the water. They are rescued by the crew of one the fire ships, themselves escaping in a small boat, but then a British guard boat captures them in return. Since the Spanish crew saved his and Hornblower's life, Foster orders that they be released. The examining board does not reassemble since Foster and another examining captain have a duel, and thus Hornblower will need to wait for a later examining board. The story ends with Foster, impressed by Hornblower's actions, telling Hornblower that since the attack prevented him from failing the examination that Hornblower should "Then be thankful for small mercies. And even more thankful for big ones."
[edit] Hornblower and Noah's Ark
[edit] Hornblower the Duchess, and the Devil
ISBN 0-316-28909-4 (1st ed. June 1, 1950)
| Horatio Hornblower novels by C. S. Forester |
|---|
|
Mr. Midshipman Hornblower • Lieutenant Hornblower • Hornblower and the Hotspur • Hornblower and the Crisis • Hornblower and the Atropos • The Happy Return (Beat to Quarters) • A Ship of the Line • Flying Colours • The Commodore • Lord Hornblower • Hornblower in the West Indies |
