Hornblower and the Crisis: An Unfinished Novel. By C.S. Forester

Hornblower and the Crisis: An Unfinished Novel

C. S. Forester (1967)

E-book downloaded from the Internet

The book was left unfinished by Forester when he died.  On his promotion to ‘post rank’ Hornblower returns on a Waterhoy (a ship supplying water to the blockading fleet) to Plymouth to await his new command. On the way they are first pursued by a French ship, but succeed in getting aboard and destroying it. In Plymouth he is summoned to London and asked to become a spy in Spain. Here the novel ends, but the gist of the rest of it is reported by the editor. ‘Forged letters are delivered to Villeneuve which prompts the Frenchman to come out and fight. This is what Nelson wants. It leads to the victory at Trafalgar. The course of history is changed.’