Adventure on the High Seas

The novel's principle setting is the high seas during a time of war; Napoleon Bonaparte's military adventures threaten the British Empire and only a strong naval response keeps the French aggression at bay and ensures the survival of the empire. As a post captain of the Royal Navy, Hornblower's sworn and obvious duty is to engage the enemy at every opportunity. He carries out this duty with H.M.S. Lydia.

The novel relates a sea voyage in the years c. 1807-1808; although the voyage is fictional it contains many historical elements and the maritime combat described is derived from several historical accounts. The ships mentioned represent fictionalized ships of historically appropriate type, though the crews are fictional. All aspects of the novel are related to sea adventure. Most of the action takes place at sea and even the action that takes place on...