What is the setting of Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C. S. Forester?

The novel features two primary types of settings. The first and by far the most significant is shipboard on a warship of the British warship. The first chapter takes place aboard the HMS Justinian, a ship of the line, and the remaining chapters generally take place aboard or close to HMS Indefatigable. When not aboard these ships, Hornblower is usually aboard some ship of the Royal Navy—perhaps the prison hulk in chapter eight or the supply brig Caroline in chapter nine. One of the novel's notable achievements is the presentation of shipboard life as something intriguing and even desirable while simultaneously presenting a realistic view of the hardships endured. Indefatigable is the most significant ship in the novel. She is a 44-gun razé, commanded by Captain Sir Edward Pellew, a fictionalized representation of the historical ship's historical captain. Originally a ship-of-the-line, the aging Indefatigable has had the upper deck removed, reducing her overall weight and sacrificing about twenty guns. The rationale for so altering a ship is fairly complex and not addressed in the novels.

The novel features two primary types of settings. The first and by far the most significant is shipboard on a warship of the British warship. The first chapter takes place aboard the HMS Justinian, a ship of the line, and the remaining chapters generally take place aboard or close to HMS Indefatigable. When not aboard these ships, Hornblower is usually aboard some ship of the Royal Navy—perhaps the prison hulk in chapter eight or the supply brig Caroline in chapter nine. One of the novel's notable achievements is the presentation of shipboard life as something intriguing and even desirable while simultaneously presenting a realistic view of the hardships endured. Indefatigable is the most significant ship in the novel. She is a 44-gun razé, commanded by Captain Sir Edward Pellew, a fictionalized representation of the historical ship's historical captain. Originally a ship-of-the-line, the aging Indefatigable has had the upper deck removed, reducing her overall weight and sacrificing about twenty guns. The rationale for so altering a ship is fairly complex and not addressed in the novels.

The second setting presented in the novel is diffuse and consists of numerous ports, cities, and coastal landings along the Atlantic coast of France and the Mediterranean. In general, these settings are transient, poorly described, and thought of—at least by Hornblower—as temporary locations of little importance. These include the, for example, the coast and town of Muzillac, the Gulf of Oman, and Oman.

The second setting presented in the novel is diffuse and consists of numerous ports, cities, and coastal landings along the Atlantic coast of France and the Mediterranean. In general, these settings are transient, poorly described, and thought of—at least by Hornblower—as temporary locations of little importance. These include the, for example, the coast and town of Muzillac, the Gulf of Oman, and Oman.