by CS Forester
Historical Fiction
Hornblower leaves life in the country with his new wife -- Lady Barbara -- and his young son to take command of a fleet sent to the Baltic just as Napoleon draws Alexander and the Russians in to war. Unsure who is friend or foe, the newly promoted Hornblower must navigate political waters that are even more complex than the Baltic itself. He finds himself in the Russian court, stopping an assassination attempt by his own translator; on the deck of a bombship as it destroys a mercenary vessel; and leading a last, desperate Infantry charge against the French. Even typhoid can't stop Hornblower from drawing the Prussians away from Napoleon's ranks.
Another fascinating story, full of historical detail and all of Hornblower's usual genius and self-doubt. The older Hornblower is a far more interesting character than his younger self and he alone makes these novels worth the read.