Rating: 
Summary: Another fine book in a classic series
Review: I have been reading this series one after the other. I read them in the biographical order of Hornblower's life.This book immediately follows Ship of the Line in which Hornblower has just fought a tremendous battle against overwhelimg odds. As might be expected, he had to "Strike" his colors at the end of the battle. In this book, he is a prisoner of Bonaparte's government. The story takes him from the castle at Rosas, scene of his final engagement, all the way to central France. In Paris, he will face a military trial on his "acts of piracy" and will then be executed along with his first lieutenant, Bush. Along the way, He, Bush and their servant escape. They find refuge in the home of a local French nobleman that has no liking for the Bonapart government. After recovering their strength and waiting out the winter, they make their way down the river to the Bay of Biscay. Once there, Hornblower daringly captures an armed cutter (which was recently captured from the British) and makes his way to sea. He is then picked up by the channel fleet. He now faces a courts martial for his role in the loss of the Sutherland. I won't go into the details of the trial, but since there are further books in the series, you can assume he was not handled too roughly. As an aside, Bush is finally made a post captain. Hornblower's wife Marie took ill during his absence and has gone to another world. His remaining son is now with Lady Barbara. He gets to meet the Prince Regent and is knighted. Admiral Leighton has been killed in a daring raid on the ships that Hornblower had crippled in the previous book. Only one disappointing feature of this book. Nearly the whole book takes place on land. There is a sea battle, but it is seen through the eye of Hornblower while he is a prisoner at the fort at Rosas. Other than that, it is still a good read and fits in well the series so far.
Rating: 
Summary: Hornblower's Triumph! The tide of luck turns!
Review: In all of the Hornblower books prior to "Flying Colours" Hornblower is a hard luck Captain. Although he generally succeeds in his missions, he does so despite hard luck and bad breaks, by the sheer virtue of his intelligence and determination. Prize money has eluded him for years, he marries poorly, and he is not of high birth. The first several Hornblower novels are the tale of an officer who succeeds in spite of a long run of bad luck and hard circumstances in a merciless and unforgiving service. In Flying Colors, this all changes, and Hornblower manages to finally capitalize on his achievements and success. This is a satisfying story of a brilliant man overcoming hardship and finally getting the rewards and fame that are justly his. While this novel is not quite in the class of "Beat to Quarters," "Ship of the Line," "Hotspur" and several other of the Hornblower novels, it is nevertheless a well-written and satisfying tale. In this novel, Hornblower's life finally comes together, and even in the class-ridden British Navy, competence finally shines through and our hero gets the rewards due him. This is a fine novel that anyone will enjoy, and Hornblower afficianados must not miss.
Rating:
Summary: Hornblower's Triumph! The tide of luck turns!
Review: In all of the Hornblower books prior to "Flying Colours" Hornblower is a hard luck Captain. Although he generally succeeds in his missions, he does so despite hard luck and bad breaks, by the sheer virtue of his intelligence and determination. Prize money has eluded him for years, he marries poorly, and he is not of high birth. The first several Hornblower novels are the tale of an officer who succeeds in spite of a long run of bad luck and hard circumstances in a merciless and unforgiving service. In Flying Colors, this all changes, and Hornblower manages to finally capitalize on his achievements and success. This is a satisfying story of a brilliant man overcoming hardship and finally getting the rewards and fame that are justly his. While this novel is not quite in the class of "Beat to Quarters," "Ship of the Line," "Hotspur" and several other of the Hornblower novels, it is nevertheless a well-written and satisfying tale. In this novel, Hornblower's life finally comes together, and even in the class-ridden British Navy, competence finally shines through and our hero gets the rewards due him. This is a fine novel that anyone will enjoy, and Hornblower afficianados must not miss.
Rating:
Summary: Hornblower's Triumph! The tide of luck turns!
Review: In all of the Hornblower books prior to "Flying Colours" Hornblower is a hard luck Captain. Although he generally succeeds in his missions, he does so despite hard luck and bad breaks, by the sheer virtue of his intelligence and determination. Prize money has eluded him for years, he marries poorly, and he is not of high birth. The first several Hornblower novels are the tale of an officer who succeeds in spite of a long run of bad luck and hard circumstances in a merciless and unforgiving service. In Flying Colors, this all changes, and Hornblower manages to finally capitalize on his achievements and success. This is a satisfying story of a brilliant man overcoming hardship and finally getting the rewards and fame that are justly his. While this novel is not quite in the class of "Beat to Quarters," "Ship of the Line," "Hotspur" and several other of the Hornblower novels, it is nevertheless a well-written and satisfying tale. In this novel, Hornblower's life finally comes together, and even in the class-ridden British Navy, competence finally shines through and our hero gets the rewards due him. This is a fine novel that anyone will enjoy, and Hornblower afficianados must not miss.
Rating:
Summary: Bloody Brilliant
Review: It was with the greatest pleasure that I finished this chapter in H.H.'s saga. As usual the writing and plot draw you on relentlessly page after page. Indeed, just the experience of reading of it can be compared to "rounding the Horn"! With heroic battles, plots, delightful twists, sparkling prose and insightful humanity, the characters move from the frictional to flesh and blood. A truly satisfying read.
Rating:
Summary: Flying Colours Indeed!
Review: Last year, my wife and I were in the Loire valley. We drove along the portion of the river from Orleans to Blois, where we stayed for two nights. HH, Bush and Brown made their escape disguised as anglers on the Loire. 'They passed Blois, Its steeply-humped bridge crowned by the pyramid whose inscription proclaimed the bridge to be the first public work of the infant Louis XV...' During our stay in Blois, we walked across the bridge a few times and I did see people fishing nearby in small boats. Our heroes' escape from France in the Witch of Endor incites the Admiral of the Channel Fleet to promote Bush into the cutter as Commander. Later HH, cleared by a court-martial aboard the Victory, is cheered by sailors manning the yards of the flagship. The midshipman who was seasick in Spitshead, receives the salute of the whole fleet at anchor there. Flying colours indeed. Hookham Frere, a historical personality, takes HH to London, where more fame and fortune await (even Palmerston makes an appearance)! Finally our hero is reunited with Lady Barbara and his son.
Rating:
Summary: Perhaps the best Hornblower book
Review: My favorite of the Hornblower series. Both a good look at the character development of Hornblower and Bush, and a great sea yarn. As with many other reviewers of this series, I have been through it several times. First read Hornblower as the 3-volume single book "Captain Horatio Hornblower" in high school. It includes Beat to Quarters, Ship of the Line and Flying Colours, and I suggest that new readers start with these 3 and then go back to Midshipman Hornblower and read the rest of the series in chronological order. These are great books for action and sea lore, but also interesting for the introspection into the psychology of warrors and conduct in battle.
Rating: 
Summary: dull episode in series
Review: The premise of the book leaves Hornblower without a ship and defeat in the hands of French forces. He is to be sent to French for trial and execution. This book wasn't as entertaining as previous books in the series. The misery is still a recurring theme in Forester's books and the author also toys with Hornblower's torn feelings between two women in England as well as another he runs into in France. Hornblower worries about Bush, his court martial, his wife, Lady Barbara, his unborn child which served as the tension in the story. This really didn't serve the book in making it exciting yet in series like this you'll get a book that serves as a transition from one book to the other. The story felt like this kind of book. This book was trying to get Hornblower from the battle in the previous book back to London for the next book. This book had no plot really of the ongoing battle between France and Britain where one side was trying to outwit the other nor tension between characters the way "Midshipman" or "Lieutenant" did. Considering how Forester wrote the books out of sequence it's probably understandable to have a book like this in order to complete the picture of Hornblower's career. So Forester shouldn't be blamed for the lack of plot. The book on its own isn't that great yet necessary in order to maintain continuity of the series.
Rating:
Summary: Shows great character development
Review: This book, despite the fact that most of it is not set at sea, provides excellent insight into Forester's great character, Horatio Hornblower. It is a pivotal book, and culminates the three-book series (Beat to Quarters, Ship of the Line, & Flying Colours) that make up the first introduction of HH by Forester. Time well spent!
Rating:
Summary: Heartwrenching and warming
Review: This is generally high up on most HH fans' favorites list. And there's no wonder why. For the first time, our heroic Hornblower has failed and lost his ship---which back then, was worse than death for the captain---it's a personal book with Hornblower worrying about his actions and the consequences to them. In addition, the care and attention he shows to Bush is heartwarming, his concern for his future and promise, "I'll make you a captain if it's the last thing I do." This book really put into perspective the fact that while Hornblower may not view Bush as the smartest of men, he IS his best friend. The affair with Marie also can pull a few internal strings, the devotion Marie has for this man and her haunting, "You're a man women can fall in love with." (attempting to get the quote right.)
A must-read. The pivot of the series.
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