Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies (Hornblower Saga)

Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies is a series of five novellas that cover three chronological years at the end of Hornblower's naval career. His title is now "Rear Admiral Lord Hornblower" and he has quite a small squadron which is mostly engaged in stopping pirates and the recently outlawed slave trade in the West Indies. Each story involves some apparently impossible problem, which Hornblower or someone close to him solves.

The first story involves trying to stop an American ship, while the two nations are at peace, with a smaller, slower vessel. The second story addresses a fast slave ship in neutral waters that Hornblower wants to capture. The third tale touches on Hornblower becoming embroiled in the problems of an escaped pirate crew. The fourth entry looks into trying to remain neutral during the wars of liberation in South America. The final story is an adventure tale involving Lady Barbara and Hornblower and considers the problems of a marine who refuses orders to play his music the way it is written.

Part of the appeal of this book is that it shows the messy way that the challenges of life often evolve. So, what's the best thing to do? It's hard to tell, and circumstances are often different from what they seem. Even though taking action may have long-term negative consequences for oneself, what is the right thing to do? That's the focus here.

What opportunities did you have today to do the right thing? How did you do?

5 Howling Hurricanes for Horatio Hornblower!   May 10, 2001
Bill Mac (windsor, ontario Canada)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

C.S. Forester was at his best when he stuck to the short story or novella sizes. Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies is a series of several short stories set during a 3 year period when HH is assigned command of the Royal Navy in the West Indies. What could go wrong in the West Indies at that time one wonders? After all, the Napoleonic and 1812 Wars were over. Britannia ruled the waves. What could go wrong? Well, lots could go wrong and does for HH in this charming collection of exciting short stories.

Horatio Hornblower, now in his mid-40s with a wife and son in England, has to police the entire Caribbean for slavers and pirates with limited resources now that the world is at peace. Furthermore, he can't upset the sensibilities of the Americans who are laying down the Monroe Doctrine or the Spanish who have Simon Bolivar on their doorstep. Furthermore, the spectre of Bonaparte, defeated but still defiant in his St. Helena exile, still hangs over HH's head.

In each of the short stories HH faces an apparently insoluble problem that he must solve in his usual self-doubting manner. By creating a group of short stories that covers the length of his assignment in the West Indies CSF managed to provide a more complete summation of HH's experiences than if he had tried to write the book as a novel. There is plenty of action in the novel although it's not as bloody as earlier efforts or anywhere near as bloody as Kent's efforts. HH has to think his way through problems not hack and slash his way through. It's also good as an HH reader to see that our hero has become a happier man after 25 years of war and sorrow. In Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies we have our hero enjoying himself as he does what he does best and as only he can do it.


Crowning Book in Tremendous Series   January 3, 1998
David Tweed (San Francisco, CA)
6 out of 8 found this review helpful

My favorite literary series, and my favorite hero. Wonderful action, and a beautiful character study. By all means, though, read them chronologically, starting with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower.


A collection of short adventures   August 7, 2006
Ian T. Brown (Gladstone, OR United States)
Napoleon is securely in exile, and Admiral Hornblower is in charge of the Royal Navy in the Caribbean. It is the end of the pirate age and in the midst of the rebellions of the Spanish colonies. It's a series of short stories without a larger theme, but they're well-written and worth reading.


Great Story   February 10, 2009
Steven R. Mcphee (Bermuda)
You are right there with Horatio in all his battles and adventures. I really enjoyed this book and all the others in the series.