Mr Midshipman Hornblower

By: C. S. Forester

Narrated by: Christian Rodska

Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

The first episode, initially created as a prequel, of C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower series, sees 17-year-old Horatio as he embarks upon a navy career aboard HMS Justinian. Older than most other seamen training to become naval officers, Hornblower is initially ridiculed for his dull attitude and inexperience at sea. However, against all odds, Horatio rises to become an unlikely hero and faces a myriad of challenges aboard the ship and on foot in native lands. Set in January 1794, Hornblower works alongside his fellow officers, eventually rising through the ranks to battle against Napoleon as he tries to conquer Europe.

In this episodic audiobook, Forester treats listeners to ten chapters with self-contained incidents and adventures. From duels to shipwrecks and Spanish galleys to French ports, we follow Horatio as he becomes a formidable man of the sea. Adding depth and feeling to the narrative, he also comes to see the atrocities of war and the often unfortunate and needless suffering of the many who are involved. Whilst showing himself to be brave, principled and ingenious, Forester's hero is singular in his unrelenting feelings of self-doubt and reserve, which render him a more likeable and relatable leader and protagonist. Commended by the San Francisco Chronicle as 'one of the great masters of narrative' C.S. Forester wrote 10 other books in the Hornblower series, all of which can be found at Audible.

Narrator Biography

Christian Rodska is an English television and voice actor best known for his role in the 1970's series Follyfoot. From The Monuments Men and The Eagle of the Ninth to The Likely Lads, Z Cars, The Tomorrow People, Coronation Street, Bergerac and Casualty, his extensive and diverse acting career has led him to become a highly solicited radio and audiobook narrator.

He has now voiced over 150 unabridged audiobooks including Winston Churchill's biographies, Evelyn Waugh's Men at Arms and Sebastian Faulks' A Possible Life. He has been praised for his ability to vary in vocal pace and style and as such, Christian boasts 12 Earphone Awards from Audiofile Magazine.

©1950 C. S. Forester (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Awesome!!!

Great story with lots of action. Beautifully narrated with lots of character distinction and very engaging

great book and great narrator

This is a great audiobook. The narrator is great and really compliments the well written story.

Bravo!

A fine reading of great book. Also, a poignant reminder of the meaning of honor. To keep ones word, to risk life for another, to do ones duty, all Christian virtues threaded throughout a well written story.

A true adventure!

This was an excellent book! Full of adventure and drama. I can’t wait to listen to the others in this series.

Classic

Loved it. Only slight criticism are some of the varying vocal performances the narrator puts on are a bit…grating.

Saw the TV, now read the book

The books are so much better! Such a good read and fun to check in with a younger version of Hornblower!

Thrilling! And fantastic narration

The beautiful 19th century language, crisp and thrilling story telling combined with the narrator’s masterful character distinctions made me feel I was right there in ships on the sea at war in the 1800’s!

Superb narration

I've read this book several times. The narrator is excellent and added quite a bit to my enjoyment. Highly recommended.

classic Forrester

The language rings with British sea terms of the Napoleonic wars. (I had to look up dog watch, although beat to quarters is obvious one you think about it.) The character is an amazing hero you can care about. Well worth the time.

Fantastic sea story!

loved it, fantastic story. I will most definitely continue the saga of Hornblower. highly recommended.