He was educated in england at alleyns school and dulwich college, at neither of which, he said, he made any particular impression except as an extremely naughty boy. Forester is best known for his novels about royal navy hero horatio hornblower and the general, published in 1936 just before the first of those, is in. Mar 31, 2020 that first book was beat to quarters, chronologically the fifth volume in tracing the career of hornblower. Horatio hornblower, but few may remember that he also wrote one of the best world war i novels. The general 1936, sometimes considered foresters masterpiece, is a satire of the military mentality and the shortcomings of military organization in world war i. Forester, british historical novelist and journalist best known as the creator of the british naval officer horatio hornblower, whose rise from midshipman to admiral and peer during the napoleonic wars is told in a series of 12 novels, beginning with the happy return 1937. Forester, or cecil scott forester, was a british novelist of much acclaim during his time. Forester s early novel is a succinctly told story of a fiction first world war general, sir herbert curzon, from his days as a young officer in the boer war to an ageing, bathchairbound figure on bournemouth promenade.
The end sheets, preliminaries and fore edge of the text block show mild spots of. Forester s books, but had never come across the general until i found a copy last year in a secondhand shop. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501 c 3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. The author of the popular hornblower series writes on napoleons peninsular war. The book john kelly reads every time he gets a promotion to remind. Forester 18991966 wrote several novels with military and naval themes, including the african queen, the barbary pirates, the general, the good shepherd, the gun, the last nine days of the bismarck, and rifleman dodd. Forester wrote extensively for magazines, and enet press has been collecting these stories for forester fans. Lost cs forester book the pursued to be published bbc news. Commencing in the month of june in the year 1808, were first introduced by c. Forester novel wikipedia, the free encyclopedia forester is best known for his famous series of horatio hornblower novels which he began in 1937.
Year uk title uk publishers n range 1924 a pawn among kings methuen 8 6005000. In this gripping tale of turmoil and triumph on the high seas, horatio hornblower emerges from his apprenticeship as midshipman to face new responsibilities thrust. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Many of these titles are also available as ebooks all formats from enet press.
Forester, was an english novelist known for writing tales of naval warfare, such as the 12 book horatio hornblower series depicting a royal navy officer during the napoleonic wars. It nestled next to a biography of winston churchill written in 1940 which was also fascinating. It graphically depicts the insanity of the decisions made by the english military leaders which led to their men being used as cannon fodder. His novels are distinguished by the famous hornblower stories, and by african queen which was made into the famous film. Cecil scott forester was the pen name of cecil louis troughton smith, who rose to fame with tales of adventure and military crusades. In april of 1966, while writing hornblower and the crisis, c. The book john kelly reads every time he gets a promotion to remind him of the perils of hubris, the pitfalls of patriotism and duty unaccompanied by critical thinkingthe most vivid, moving and devastating wordportrait of a world war one british commander ever written, here reintroduced by max hastings. Some of them have never been seen since their original publication. Hornblower leads his first ship of the line into enemy waters in this installment of c. Forester wrote a very compelling novel that tracks the advancement of the general and the sufferings he and his family endured. Cecil louis troughton smith 27 august 1899 2 april 1966, known by his pen name cecil scott c.
This 1933 novel was the basis of the movie the pride and the passion cary grant. Peninsular war novels in death to the french and the gun filmed as the pride and the passion in 1957. Foresters book, one of his nonhornblower masterpieces, is one way to understand. Oct 15, 2011 cs forester s lost crime novel to be published at last this article is more than 8 years old hornblower authors 1935 novel the pursued disappeared until found at auction in 2002.
Fans know that hornblower was only a small part of c. The general 1936 is virtually a biography of a fictional army officer. The hornblower series began with beat to quarters 1937. Forester reminds me so much in his style of writing, of george orwell, and plain murder is one of three crime novels payment deferred and the persued making up the trio written between the wars depicting the blue collar lives of individuals in suburban london, and of their attempts to satisfy a driving passion by whatever means at their disposal. Retired onetime commander submarine southwest pacific and to commander j. He wrote many further works which prove a pleasure to explore his life born in egypt, brought up in south london, a failed medical student, the archetypal struggling young writer covered.
The general 1936 and the african queen 1935 are exceptions. His most notable works were the african queen and the elevenbook horatio hornblower series, about naval warfare during the napoleonic era. Foresters 1936 masterpiece follows herbert curzon, who fumbled a fortuitous early step on the path to. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. Chiefly known for his hornblower series of novels, he was a wellregarded novelist mounting up around thirtyfive novels during his sixtysix years. We have a very different view of military service today than what was expected in the early 1900s. As part of the conversion of the book to its new digital format, we have made certain minor adjustments in its layout. Trump chief of staff john kelly read the general when he. Forester, best known as the creator of fictional royal navy officer horatio hornblower. A hard story to enjoy but well written and compelling drama. The general was published in 1936 and apart from being an action story of the great war the one inended to end all wars shows how 19th century battle strategy wasnt exactly suited to 20th century total warfare. Lost book by hornblower author reveals cs foresters hidden. Several of his works were filmed, most notably the african queen, directed by john huston in 1951 and starring humphrey bogart and.
It blends forester s preference for military subjects and solid unreflective characters, his irony, his grasp of history and his gift for lean, hypnotic narrative. This belies the conventional portrait of uncaring chateau generals and gives a complex portrait of someone of limited ability but brave. Midshipman hornblower, and hornblower and the crisis, and more on. Cs foresters lost crime novel to be published at last. First published in 1927, love lies dreaming is one of c. Forester first published 1955 with thanks to viceadmiral ralph w. In addition to his mostly seafaring novels and nautical tales, c.
My friend jay also wanted to read it and join our discussion. Forester was the pen name of english novelist cecil louis troughton smith 18991966, who wrote naval adventure novels and stories. Oct 16, 2011 but cs foresters hidden talent as a racy thriller writer with a penchant for steamy scenes and risque plot lines, is to be revealed when a lost book by the author is published for the first time. Being also known for his horatio hornblower novels and 1935s the african queen, forester attempted in the work to portray the then recently finished conflict of world war one in a decidedly realistic though still narrativebased and compelling fashion. Told in the voice of a young writer struggling to pen his next novel and therefore superficially preoccupied with the art of novel writing, at its true core this is. Forester s books are still available 2nd hand see table for a rough price estimate. C s forester was always a good,if not great writer and in this book gives a convincing portrait of a ww1 general. Forester, was an english novelist known for writing tales of naval warfare, such as the 12book horatio hornblower series depicting a royal navy officer during the napoleonic wars. Foresters 1936 masterpiece follows lt general herbert curzon. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Not only this, he penned a few childrens books too. Forester s 1936 novel the general after accepting the role of chief of staff, just as he did after accepting the role of dhs.
Forester is one of the great writers of the twentiethcentury. Being also known for his horatio hornblower novels and 1935s the african queen, forester. Forester s 1936 masterpiece follows lt general herbert curzon, who fumbled a. Forester is best known for his novels about royal navy hero horatio hornblower and the general, published in 1936 just before the first of those, is in many ways similar.
Abandoning medicine for writing, he achieved success with his first novel, a murder story entitled payment deferred 1926. The focus stays with the pointofview of the central character, but an omniscient narrator comments on his decisions and offers broader background. Forester when i was a lad especially the horatio hornblower novels but also including the gun, the ship, and the general that last title was an extremely influential novelization of the mistakes made with the best of intentions in ww i by british military leadership. Published in 1936 and is still used in military history classes. It recounts the rise of an incompetent english officer to the rank of lieutenant general. Forester peters fraser and dunlop pfd literary agents. May 1810, seventeen years deep into the napoleonic wars. Originally published on my blog here in february 1999. Foresters 1936 masterpiece follows lt general herbert curzon, who fumbled a fortuitous early step on the path to glory in the boer war.
Hall the incidents described in this book never took place. Forester s beloved adventure series, called exciting, realistic, packed with grand naval action by the new yorker. Feb 11, 2017 forester offers the analogy of expending more and more energy and resources trying to remove a screw from a board, by simply applying ones extensive experience removing nails. Forester about an imaginary series of incidents involving a single eighteenpounder cannon during the peninsular war 18071814. Originally published in 1937, this was to be the first novel depicting horatio hornblower.
The good shepherd novel the good shepherd 1955 is a nautical and war novel by c. Told in the voice of a young writer struggling to pen his next novel and therefore superficially preoccupied with the art of novel writing, at its true core this is a story about the quarrels and joys of early married life. Forester s 1936 masterpiece follows lt general herbert curzon, who fumbled a fortuitous early step on the path to glory in the boer war. Forester s novel, the general, and its relation to the events, people and ideas prominent before, during, and after the first world war. Forester s 1936 masterpiece follows herbert curzon, who fumbled a fortuitous early ste. Poopoo and the dragons in 1942 and the barbary pirates in 1953, which were written with the sole intention of keeping his younger son george well behaved.
The book was first published in 1933 and has as its background the brutal war of liberation of spanish and portuguese forces regular and partisans and their english allies against the. He left dulwich college and attempted to take up medicine but soon found that his real vocation was storytelling. He is best known for his horatio hornblower series as well as his novel the african queen, the latter of which was adapted to film by legendary director john huston in 1951. Survival through the early slaughters in which so many fellowofficers perished then brings him rapid promotion. The general and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. A superb yet neglected novel, the general is the most vivid, moving and devastating wordportrait of a world war one british commander ever written, here reintroduced by max hastings. His other books included brown on resolution 1929, the gun 1933, the general 1936, and the ship 1943. Forester and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Forester also wrote two crime based novels called payment deferred in 1926 along with plain murder in 1930. Forester to horatio as hes commanding a 36 gun frigate called hms lydia. Near fine in brick red cloth covered boards with silver colored text stamping on the spine and light yellow end papers. Buy a cheap copy of lieutenant hornblower book by c. Forester s 1936 masterpiece follows herbert curzon, who fumbled a fortuitous early step on the path to.
The book illustrates how the english class system influenced the choice of generals in ww1 and, even if the general was personally courageous, it did not always guarantee success. Cecil louis troughton smith, known by his pen name cecil scott c. Cecil scott forester was born on 27th august, 1899 in cairo, egypt. Can you sympathize with someone who gets a lot of people killed. Abandoning medicine for writing, forester achieved success with his first novel, payment deferred 1926. He urged them to read the novel, which, he said, offered a penetrating study of the british military. The book john kelly reads every time he gets a promotion to remind him of the perils of hubris, the pitfalls of patriotism and duty unaccompanied by criti. Many of his novels were adapted to motion pictures. Foresters 1936 masterpiece follows lt general herbert curzon, who fumbled a. In 1940 forester moved to berkeley, california, where he lived for many years between his world war ii and postwar travels. The wall street journal reported friday that kelly picked up c.
1010 962 236 368 234 551 728 716 577 1008 1294 334 320 497 39 1365 1430 837 1115 363 1491 1154 665 149 1199 1217 738 1106 729