Horatio Hornblower Books in Order
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The Horatio Hornblower series, written by C. S. Forester, follows the career of a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. Set primarily in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the novels depict Hornblower's experiences in the Royal Navy, focusing on his leadership, moral dilemmas, and challenges in wartime. The series explores themes of duty, honor, and resilience through a series of adventures that span various naval campaigns and missions.
Books in this series
Ordered by first publication where known. The official numbering for this series is incomplete in our sources, so we don't show series numbers we can't verify.
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Buy on Amazon1920 · C. S. Forester
Captain Hornblower and the crew of HMS Sutherland join a naval blockade along the Spanish coast during the Napoleonic Wars. During a confrontation…
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Buy on Amazon1920 · C. S. Forester
A 1950 novel by C. S. Forester, the first of eleven books chronicling the nautical adventures of Horatio Hornblower. Set in 1793 on the eve of the…
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Buy on Amazon1937 · C. S. Forester
Hornblower, captain of the 36-gun frigate Lydia, sets course for Spain and Nicaragua in his ongoing quest to cut Napoleon's lines wherever he crosses…
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1938 · C. S. Forester
Flying Colours is a novel by C. S. Forester featuring Captain Horatio Hornblower. First published in 1938, it is the third in the series but the…
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Buy on Amazon1939 · C. S. Forester
The book follows Horatio Hornblower, a British Navy officer during the Napoleonic era, as he advances in rank and faces the challenges of command,…
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Buy on Amazon1945 · C. S. Forester
Horatio Hornblower returns to sea holding the rank of Commodore. He commands a small squadron during the Napoleonic wars, and the fate of Europe…
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1945 · C. S. Forester
The Commodore is a novel featuring the character Horatio Hornblower, written by C. S. Forester. It was published in the United States under the title…
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Buy on Amazon1946 · C. S. Forester
Lord Hornblower is a Horatio Hornblower novel written by C. S. Forester, published in 1946, and was originally intended to be the last book in the…
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Buy on Amazon1952 · C. S. Forester
Lieutenant Hornblower is a novel in the Horatio Hornblower series written by C. S. Forester. It is the second book in the series when considering the…
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Buy on Amazon1953 · C. S. Forester
Hornblower and the Atropos (1953) by C.S. Forester finds Captain Horatio Hornblower taking command of the sloop Atropos after a humbling canal-boat…
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Buy on Amazon1957 · C. S. Forester
Hornblower in the West Indies, also known as Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies, is a 1957 novel by C. S. Forester, part of his series about…
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1962 · C. S. Forester
Hornblower and the Hotspur is a 1962 book by C. S. Forester. It is part of the series Horatio Hornblower. Catalog genres: Historical Fiction.
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Admiral Hornblower In West Indies
Year unknown · C. S. Forester
Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies is a novel in the series featuring the fictional Royal Navy officer Horatio Hornblower, written by C. S.…
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Buy on AmazonYear unknown · C. S. Forester
The final Horatio Hornblower story, set in 1805, follows Hornblower as he obtains confidential dispatches from Napoleon after a hand-to-hand…
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Year unknown · C. S. Forester
The Happy Return is the first novel in the Horatio Hornblower series by C. S. Forester, published in 1937. The American title comes from the naval…
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Frequently asked questions
What order should I read the Horatio Hornblower books in?
Read them in publication order — the list above is sorted by first publication where known, starting with “A ship of the line”.
How many books are in the Horatio Hornblower series?
We list 16 books by C. S. Forester , published between 1920–1962.
Where can I buy the Horatio Hornblower books?
Each title above links to Amazon. See our affiliate disclosure.
More series like Horatio Hornblower
Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.