The Happy Return (CS Forester)

Horatio Hornblower, a fictional British naval hero created by C.S. Forester, was featured in 16 stories written between 1937-1967 (they are set between 1794-1848).  The Happy Return (published as Beat to Quarters in the USA) was the first written (though not the first chronologically).  This review contains spoilers.

Set in 1808, here Hornblower captains the frigate Lydia off the west coast of Central America.  His original mission, to harry Spanish dominance in the area by supporting a local warlord set against the Spanish rule, takes an amusing turn when he finds that the warlord has deified himself and now goes by El Supremo.  Horatio reluctantly continues the alliance, turning a captured Spanish warship over to the warlord so El Supremo can continue his personal quest for dominance in the area.  Immediately thereafter, Hornblower receives word that Spain and England have formed an alliance to combat Napoleon in France, and thus he has new orders to track down and destroy the very ship he just turned over.  He does so, at great loss to his own ship.  As an aside, before the great battle, he's compelled to take a woman on board (Lady Barbara, of the powerful Wellesley family) to return her to England, and romantic urgings between the two develop on the journey home- urgings that go unfulfilled, for Hornblower has a wife at home.  The book ends as the two part ways, wondering what the future will hold.

I like this book, and especially the hero.  Hornblower is an introspective and self-critical captain, questioning himself at every turn.  Immensely concerned with how his crew views him, he does many things to look like a good captain and be an example, whether or not he feels it.  He deals with doubt and insecurity while successfully maintaining a seemingly calm, collected demeanor (with the occasional cross attitude or harsh word befitting a ship captain). He makes decisions based on the overall greater good- even if that means swallowing his pride (or his country's) in the face of madmen like El Supremo.  Hornblower's a good leader- but he doesn't think himself to be so.  You see, in turn, his flaws and his victories, as does he.  This sort of hero is unusual in literature, and I found it appealing.  You also see him struggle with his feelings for Lady Barbara, and the fact that he doesn't give in is unusual (and heartening).  All of this is very positive.

There's not much to say against the book, though it is a bit hard to follow at times, with all the references to ship components and routine, which were unfamiliar to me.  It's not "epic," as it tells the tale quickly (in 240 pages), and skips entirely what modern writers spend dozens of pages detailing.  You do learn a lot about nuances of ship life, from the food rationing to battle, to the means of repairing a damaged ship at sea.  I didn't like it enough to read the entire series, but anyone interested in high seas adventure of the 1800s would enjoy this (and each) Hornblower tale.

Rating: A-