Throughout the prior volumes of this wonderful series, there has been lots of "ship of the line" envy on Hornblower's part as he made do with commanding lesser vessels. In Ship of the Line, Captain Hornblower finds himself getting his heart's desire, a two-decker called the Sutherland.

Complications soon arise when Hornblower discovers that his new admiral has just married Lady Barbara Wellesley, with whom Hornblower is in love. Hornblower and his wife (Maria) meet the admiral and Lady Barbara in a social scene that you will not soon forget.

With too little time to prepare, the Sutherland is soon at sea with an under sized and inexperienced crew. What follows is as action-packed a book as you can imagine. Ship of the Line has a greater variety of difficult and unusual challenges thrown Hornblower's way than any reader could possibly hope for. The details of the conflicts are stunning in their scope and scale. If you are like me, you'll find yourself racing through the pages to see what happens next . . . knowing that there are surely big surprises ahead. As usual, Hornblower's imagination and quick thinking make for enormous differences in the outcomes from what would be expected.

You will enjoy the complications brought about by Lady Barbara's new husband. And Hornblower's thoughts of Lady Barbara intrude throughout the book, like the musings of a love-sick schoolboy.

The book is also interesting because Hornblower is faced with many decisions that could wreck his career, leaving him unemployed at half pay for the rest of his life. While many today would enjoy an early retirement, Hornblower is only happy at sea . . . and in battle. With his strong sense of duty, he makes decisions that may surprise you from time to time, which makes the story all the richer.

If you have never read any of the Hornblower books, I suggest that you start with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower and proceed through in the chronological order of Hornblower's career through the series (not the order in which they were written).

If you do decide to read this book first to see if you like the books, let me caution you that the book ends in such a way that you will probably immediately decide to read the next one. For that reason, try to resist reading Ship of the Line until you have read its six predecessor volumes.

Do you always take time to locate new solutions that others have not tried before? Once you see a possible solution, do you stick with that idea to work through the problems . . . or are you soon discouraged by the first foul wind?

Assume there is a solution vastly better than any you have tried before . . . or have thought of yet. And keep thinking until you find it!

Short Stories Featuring Early 19th Century Technology
Review date: 2004-07-01 Rating: 8 out of 10

Although the episodes in Hornblower and the Atropos are tied together with a modest connecting story line, each one could just as easily be an independent short story about Hornblower's experiences on his way to, during, and after his assignment as captain of the Atropos, the smallest three-master in His Majesty's fleet. What positively distinguishes these stories are fascinating details of some of the most advanced technologies in the Britain of 200 years ago. You will learn about the new fresh water canals and tunnels used then to speed shipments of people and fresh market goods, underwater demolition and salvage operations, coordinating naval battles through signaling, repairing ships on station, turning a ship without using the wind, treating gunshot wounds, and how to administer a very detailed operation without use of telephone, telegraph, or radio. The book is well worth reading just for these details.
The book's main disappointment for me is the absence of the redoubtable William Bush who plays such an important an interesting role as Hornblower's foil and partner in most of the novels. I missed Bush. I think you will, too.

As occurs increasingly in the books in the series, Hornblower comes into contact with famous people of the day. Hornblower's success with the Hotspur has won him friends in the Admiralty, and even higher places.

You will enjoy this book much more if you refer to the maps in the Hornblower Companion as you read this book.

Much of the appeal of the Hornblower series is involved in the naval engagements. While this book will make it seem like all of that is going to be missed here, just be patient.

One of the most interesting parts of this book comes when Hornblower uncharacteristically makes a rather large mistake, and has to face up to the fact that he may have no honorable way out. This situation reminds me of the Star Trek episode where Captain Kirk describes how he handled the insoluble problem provided to each cadet at Starfleet Academy. Yes, there is always a way out.

Be curious about all that is around you, and consider how it can be turned to new advantages . . . when you change your assumptions about what is most important!

Very disappointed.
Review date: 2002-12-28 Rating: 6 out of 10

In the fine fighting tradition of Nelson's Navy, there is plenty of quarterdeck action in these first three Hornblower tales, but almost nothing of below-deck life.
And what a pompous, condescending, self-satisfied boor Hornblower is - in that respect he probably epitomises the large majority of RN Captains at that time, accustomed as they were to instant obediance with no questioning of orders. But I found the patronising tone taken with his wife (poor woman) to be chauvinistic at best. God knows why he married her in the first place, certainly it wasn't for intellectual stimulation, nor mutual comfort; one feels he much prefers sailing and ship-board life.
His patronising extends to his officers as well, and every decision he makes seems designed to bolster the view of The Great Captain Who Makes No Mistakes ... a thoroughly unlikeable fellow.
Still, the story did teach me something about canals, as Hornblower makes his way to London to take up his commission, but there is something very dour and dry about these tales that does not grab one the way that other writers' stories do. They were probably fine for their time, but they pale into insignificance in the face of today's better writers. ***

First rate naval heroism
Review date: 2000-07-04 Rating: 8 out of 10

These three novels are the heart of the Hornblower saga. Here he is as a Captain of his own vessel, fighting Britains enemies in the Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean. Probably the best of the novels, collected together in one volume - a definite must have.

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