NAVAL OCCASIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23145, 17 September 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

NAVAL OCCASIONS

/ FRIGATES AND BROADSIDES I A sea story about the good old days of broadsides and frigates and fighting with tho French! It does not sound very attractive to adult readers, but that is to reckon without taking into consideration the special gifts of Mr. C. S. Forester as a story-teller. "A Ship of the Lino" soon rivets the interest once its covers are opened and as tho gallant captain scores victory after victory, and surmounting all difficulties, smites tho enemy hip and' thigh, tho reader, with youth renewed, exults over each succeeding exploit. And thero is moce in it than a mere sea story, for in his chie.f character Mr. Forester has evolved a very subtle piece of character delineation. This is the same pen which wrote that brilliant satire "The General," except that here is all admiration. At tho foibles of tho Anny, Mr. Forester poked a little fun; this gallant sea captain has captured his heart. Captain Hornblower is not a simple character. On his quarterdeck he is a typical seadog, a stern taskmaster, a fire-eater, yielding to no man in courage,'dignity and devotion to duty. Behind tho scones ho is seasick, desperately afraid, shy and retiring to a fault, and easily upset at sight of blood or suffering. Ihe nautical atmosphere of this book never encroaches on the military ff±: grt T d ° f " Tho General." iKen inn as wii UI u Ur ui rob,lst nnd rollickhif' iLdW n °. rnbl ? Wer retur ned with ms landing-party from a successful rtat shre <>» ol dignity a £ of „"n r Tli i! ° n!ißt Vw'ih outl, r Lthl h th « (lylichae? 5 Joseph!) LiDC '" by C * S ' Fore » l «