Rating: 
Summary: Not bad but only for Hornblower fans
Review: When I first heard of this book I thought it would be great. I'm not only a Hornblower fan but a history fan and a life of Hornblower written as a history seemed not only a fun idea but a great joke. (as it has been on people who have read the book and thought he was real.) When I bought the book I found that the joke was more on me.There were moments of real interest, and several minor adventures in a summery style that wetted the appitite, but it wetted it for Forester to write about them not to continue. Of course if the minor adventures were fleshed out in future Hornblower movies they may work well indeed! The backround info and the letters were well done and the footnotes would leave you to believe it was the real thing. The adventures and letters of both Richard and Joshua Hornblower were actually (particularly Joshua) the best parts of the book. A person now knowing the series would think this was the real thing, but I don't think he would have the desire to read the origional books, which is a shame as they are the true treasure. I think that Parkinson was a big Hornblower fan who in my opinion wrote this on a lark for himself and it worked. Hornblower fans may take exception to the letter to be opened 100 years later by Hornblower but then again maybe they won't Once you've read the series you will find this book enjoyable, but don't start with it. It's not a triumph but it is what it is if you take it as such you'll be ok.
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