Horatio Hornblower

Horatio Hornblower is a series universe written by C.S. Forester. The complete collection runs to 13 books across 4 series, published between 1937 and 1967.

The main series is Publication Order of Horatio Hornblower Books with 11 books. It opens with The Happy Return / Beat to Quarters (1937) and currently runs to Hornblower During the Crisis / Hornblower and the Crisis (1967).

Series included on this page:

• Publication Order of Horatio Hornblower Books — 11 books, 1937–1967
• Chronological Order of Horatio Hornblower Books — 11 books, 1937–1967
• Publication Order of Horatio Hornblower Collections — 2 books, 1964–1965
• Publication Order of Horatio Hornblower Non-Fiction Books — 1 books, 1964–1964

New readers should begin with the first book of the main series in publication order: The Happy Return / Beat to Quarters (1937), book 1 of Publication Order of Horatio Hornblower Books. Reading in publication order lets the world and characters develop the way the author intended, and it avoids spoilers that later books may contain.

If you would rather follow the story timeline instead of the release sequence, a chronological order is listed below. It begins with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (1950).

Each of the 4 series on this page is expandable — click a series heading to see every title it contains, in order, with a direct link to buy the book on Amazon.