Not the first series but certainly the one that popularized the genre and still a great place to start if you are new to naval fiction of the period. And you can get yourself in the mood by going to the video store and renting the 1951 Captain Horatio Hornblower movie with Gregory Peck in the title role.

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower [1794-98]
Lieutenant Hornblower [1800-03
Hornblower and the Hotspur [1803-05]
Hornblower During the Crisis [1805]
Hornblower and the Atropos [1806-08]
Beat to Quarters [1808]
Ship of the Line [1810]
Flying Colors [1810-11]
Commodore Hornblower [1812]
Lord Hornblower [1813-14]
Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies [1821-23]

In print in the US, at $12.95. You may come across Hornblower books with other names, e.g., The Indomitable Hornblower, etc. These are either re-named editions of one of the above, or compilations of more than one. Forester also wrote The Hornblower Companion which contains maps and commentary on each of the novels. In-print in hardcover at $29.95, and used paperback editions are around. C. Northcote Parkinson of Parkinson's Law fame, and a friend of Forester, wrote The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower, a biography and listed as in-print in hardcover at $32.95.

JACK AUBREY/STEPHEN MATURIN SERIES
BY PATRICK O'BRIAN

The critics have decided in the last couple of years that the O'Brian books are literature rather than simply adventure fiction, and they have gotten a lot of publicity with the happy result that they are all in print in the US They're not for everybody. I love them, but some of my friends, including our esteemed editor, think they're "slow" and "too talky".

Master and Commander [1800]
The Far Side of the World
Post Captain
The Reverse of the Medal
HMS Surprise
The Letter of Marque
Mauritius Command
The Thirteen Gun Salute
Desolation Island
The Nutmeg of Consolation
The Fortune of War
The Truelove
The Surgeon's Mate
The Wine Dark Sea
The Ionian Mission
The Commodore [1813] new pb

Treason's Harbor - Available at $11.95 Takes place between the first novel which takes place in 1800, and the latest in 1813, the exact dating is rather vague because O'Brian originally had no idea he would be writing such an extensive series. The 18th book in the series, The Yellow Admiral, is due to be released in the latter part of 1996., in hc.

RICHARD BOLITHO SERIES
BY ALEXANDER KENT

Alexander Kent is the nom de plume of Douglas Reeman who has written a large number of 20th Century naval novels under his own name. With 22 books to date, it is the largest series, and to my mind, along with the Ramage series below, the closest successor to Hornblower in style:

Richard Bolitho, Midshipman [1772]*
Midshipman Bolitho and the Avenger [1773]*

* These two are now published together underthe title: Midshipman Bolitho at $10.
Stand into Danger [1774]
In Gallant Company [1777-78]
The Flag Captain [1797]
Signal Close Action [1798]
Sloop of War [1778-81]
To Glory We Steer [1782-83]
Command a King's Ship [1784-85]
Passage To Mutiny [1789-91]
With All Dispatch [1792]
Form Line of Battle [1793]
Enemy in Sight [1794-95]
The Inshore Squadron [1800]
A Tradition of Victory [1801]
Success To The Brave [1802]
Colors Aloft [1803]
Honour This Day [1804-05]
The Only Victor [1806]
Beyond the Reef [1808]
The Darkening Sea [1809-10]
For My Country's Freedom [War of 1812] new in pb

The majority of Kents are $10, the rest are $12.50. In print in the U.K and imported. However, all but last four were in print in the US at one time. The twenty-third Bolitho novel, Cross of St. George, is due out in October 1996, in hc.

ALAN LEWRIE SERIES
BY DEWEY LAMBDIN

Everybody I've talked to who has read this series has especially enjoyed it. No headaches here. Good, fast-moving, and humorous.

The King's Coat [1780]
The French Admiral [1781]
The King's Commission [1782]*
The King's Privateer [1784?]*
The Gun Ketch [1786]*
HMS Cockerel [1793]

[*] The King's Commission has just been released in paperback at $5.99, and The King's Privateer will be in a new pb August 1996. However, both these and The Gun Ketch are available under one cover as For King and Country at $19.95. HMS Cockerel is a new hc at $25.00. The King's Coat and The French Admiral pbs are temporarily out-of-print but are around used.

NICHOLAS RAMAGE SERIES
BY DUDLEY POPE

A personal favorite. Pope has also written such serious naval history as Nelson at Copenhagen.

Ramage [1796]
Ramage and the Drumbeat [1797]*
Ramage and the Freebooters**
Governor Ramage, RN
Ramage's Prize [1798]
Ramage and the Guillotine
Ramage's Diamond [1802]
Ramage's Mutiny
Ramage and the Rebels
The Ramage Touch
Ramage's Signal
Ramage and the Renegades
Ramage's Devil [1803]
Ramage's Trial
Ramage's Challenge
Ramage at Trafalgar [1805]
Ramage and the Saracens [1806]
Ramage and the Dido

[*] Was published in the US as Drumbeat.
[**] Was published in US as The Triton Brig.

Series is partially in-print in the UK, and imported. Prices vary between $10-12.95. Good news is that an English publisher is now reprinting two titles at a time.

NATHANIEL DRINKWATER SERIES
BY RICHARD WOODMAN

Another thoroughly enjoyable series.

An Eye of the Fleet [1780-83]*
King's Cutter [1792-93]
A Brig of War [1798-99]
The Corvette [1801-02]**
Bomb Vessel [1801]
1805: A Nathaniel Drinkwater Novel [1805]
Baltic Mission [1806]
In Distant Waters [1807-08]
A Private Revenge [1808]
Under False Colours [1809]
The Flying Squadron [1811]
Beneath the Aurora [1812] new pb
[*] Was published in one US pb edition as Nathaniel Drinkwater, Midshipman.
[**] Was also published under the title "Artic Treachery"

Imported currently, the majority are $10.95. Some of the newer ones $13.95. A very popular series in the UK where formerly out-of-print volumes are now being reprinted.

HARRY LUDLOW SERIES
BY DAVID DONACHIE

Privateer, impressed RN seaman, smuggler, and amateur detective are among the job-descriptions which apply to Ludlow and his brother James at various times in this series.

The Devil's Own Luck [1792]
The Dying Trade [1793]
A Hanging Matter [1794]
An Element of Chance [1795] new

A recent series imported from the UK, in pb.. These are available at $10.95.

ADAM HORNE SERIES
BY PORTER HILL

Something a little different. Horne is a captain in the Honorable East India Company's own private navy, the Bombay Marine.

Bombay Marines [1761]
The War Chest [1761]
China Flyer [1762]

According to the publisher, these are all available at $17.95, in hc.

HENRY LUNT SERIES
BY TOM MCNAMARA

Lunt serves as John Paul Jones' lieutenant on the Ranger. In the second novel, Colonial Navy Lt Lunt helps ambassador to France Benjamin Franklin search out a British spy. Sea battles and an interesting element of espionage, as well.

Henry Lunt and the Ranger
Henry Lunt & The Spymaster

In print in the US at $10.95. Henry Lunt at Flamborough Head is due out Dec. 1996.

THE PATRICK DALTON SERIES
BY DAN PARKINSON

An RN officer falsely accused of treason turns renegade and must avoid capture by the navies of both sides during the American Revolution. Author is nephew of C Northcote.

The Fox and the Faith [1777]
The Fox and the Flag
The Fox and the Fury
The Fox and the Fortune [1778]

According to the publisher, these are all still available at $4.99.

JOHN LAWSON SERIES
BY FRANK ECCLES

The first novel details the adventures of 18-year old Midshipman Lawson aboard HMS Adamant. In the second, Captain Lawson must deal with a notorious Barbary pirate. Like his character, the author apparently aged some 20 years before writing the second book.

The Mutiny Run [1797]
The Barbary Run [1816]

The Mutiny Run is printed in the US in hc at $21.95. The Barbary Run is available as a UK import at $10.95.

REVOLUTION AT SEA TRILOGY
BY JAMES L. NELSON

Book One of this trilogy, By Force of Arms [1775], is in bookstores now at $12.00. The second volume is planned for release this November though the title has not been finalized as of this writing. The third will be out sometime in Spring of 1997.

The adventures of Isaac Biddlecomb, a colonial merchant ship captain and accomplished smuggler pressed as a common seaman into the RN, are recounted. The author spent two years as third officer on "HMS" Rose, working-replica of a British frigate active during the revolution, so he certainly knows his stuff.

OUT-OF-PRINT

The following series are all out-of-print. However, all were at least partially in print in the US, at one time, mostly in pb. In the last couple of months, I seen no less than 28 of the 42 books listed below for sale either in used-bookstores, from Rich Merritt, or through Internet book-searches. So, they are out there!

Richard Delancey Series by C. Northcote Parkinson: The Guernseyman [1775-82]; Devil to Pay [1794-96]; The Fireship [1796-1798]; Touch and Go [[1798-1801]; So Near, So Far [1801-04]; Dead Reckoning [1805-11]

Matthew Lamb Series by Kenneth Maynard: Lieutenant Lamb [1798]; First Lieutenant [1799]; Lamb in Command; Lamb's Mixed Fortunes

Percival Merewether Series by Ellis K. Meacham: Another captain of the Bombay Marine. However, whereas, the Adam Horne Series takes place during the Seven Years War, this is Napoleonic era. The East Indiaman; On the Company's Service [1806-07], For King & Company [1807-08]

Privateers And Gentlemen Series by Jon Williams: Exploits of two generations of the seafaring American Markham family by a former Theme Editor of THE COURIER and contributor. The Privateer [Revolution]; The Yankee [1812]; The Raider [1813], The Macedonian [1814]; Cat Island [1815].

George Abercrombie Fox Series by Adam Hardy: Fox is deeply resentful of those of higher-birth but far-less ability being advanced over him. There's no better seaman, but Fox is no Hornblower. While on-the-beach at half-pay, he's not above a little highway robbery to help meet expenses.(ED NOTE: Adam Hardy is the nom-de-plume of a wargamer in England). Court Martial; The Press Gang; Prize Money; Savage Siege; Treasure Map; Sailor's Blood; Sea of Gold; Battle Smoke; Cut And Thrust; Boarders Away; The Fire Ship; Blood Beach; Sea Flame; Close Quarters.

Paul Gallant & Edward Mainwaring Series by Victor Suthren: Victor Suthren is curator of the Canadian War Museum and an experienced sailor. His Paul Gallant series is a rare opportunity to get the "other" point of view. Gallant is an 18th Century French Canadian naval officer at war with the RN and its American colonial allies. Edward Mainwaring is an American colonial serving with the RN.

Paul Gallant Series and Edward Mainwaring Series

The Black Cockade [1745]
Royal Yankee [1739]
A King's Ransom
The Golden Galleon [1741]
In Perilous Seas [1747]
Admiral of Fear
Captain Monsoon [1744]

I believe Admiral of Fear and Captain Monsoon are still in print in the U.S. in pb.

John Justice Series by Anthony Forrest. Another RN Officer battles Napoleon. Captain Justice [1804], A Balance of Dangers, The Pandora Secret.

WHERE TO FIND THEM

The first thing I would do is, armed with this article, to visit any used bookstores in your area, particularly those which maintain a decent-sized selection of second-hand pbs.You're likely to find copies of both in-print and out-of-print books on this list very inexpensively. If there is a large new bookstore like Barnes and Noble in your area. the Forester's and O'Brian's can probably be found on the shelves. Or you can order them through your local bookstore. For UK imports and hard-to-find series, the places below are the best I've found, and they carry the Hornblower's and O'Brian's as well.

I would try them all when searching for particular books, as inventories vary. Mention THE COURIER article when you contact them.

THE NAUTICAL MIND BOOKSTORE
Radisson Plaza Hotel, 249 Queen's Quay West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J2N5
Tel: [416] 203-1163 E-Mail: books@nauticalmind.com

New Books Only. They carry Alexander Kent, Richard Woodman, Dewey Lambdin,Victor Suthren, Porter Hill, Dudley Pope. Very helpful folks. Prices are in Canadian dollars, and given the favorable exchange rate for the U.S. dollar and the wholesale conversion rate offered by credit card companies, prices can be very attractive even with international postage. Postage is billed at cost plus $1.25 Canadian. My orders take about 10 days to arrive.

THE ARMCHAIR SAILOR
2110 Westlake Ave North
Seattle, Wash 98109
Tel [800]-875-0852 E-Mail: armchair@wolfnet.com

New books primarily. A friendly family-owned store. Ask for Sam [it's a she]. They do maintain a small used-book section, and you can send them a want-list. They carry Alexander Kent, Richard Woodman, David Donachie, Frank Eccles, DeweyLambdin, Dudley Pope, Victor Suthren. UPS shipment at usual rates. My orders take about 7 days coast-to-coast.

TALL SHIP BOOKS
P.O. Box 8027
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52408
Tel [319]395-6559 days. [319]396-2549 [5-11pm] E-Mail: rich_merritt@cmfz.com

New and used books. If you are trying to find naval fiction at the lowest possible prices,then, after scouring the local used-book stores in your area, this should be your first stop. Rich Merrit imports all the series printed in the U.K., and has the ones printed in the U.S. He is also an unparalled source for used naval fiction. He'll often have second-hand copies of Hornblowers, O'Brians, Kents, Woodman, Popes, Donachies, Etc, in good condition for a fraction of what they will cost you new. And he is very good at finding out-of-print titles like those listed in this article. Send him a want-list. If he doesn't have something now, he may well turn it up before long as his inventory constantly turns over. Rich also has a special inducement to get you to order from him. Order at least $25 worth of books from him, and he'll send you at no cost The Hand of Destiny [Colliers Mag '41], Hornblower's Charitable Offering [Argosy UK '41], and Hornblower And His Majesty [Colliers Mag '41], three Hornblower short-stories which never made into book-form. Finally, if come across cheap duplicates in used-book stores, or simply have ones you don't want, depending on what they are, Rich will take them in trade or on consignment.

THE INTERNET

If you're on line, there are several web-sites you'll want to check out. They also provide links to many other sites of nautical interest. Ed Youngstrom offers a web-page containing an informative essay on Nelsonian fiction and a Naval Chronology of the Age of Fighting Sail [http://members.aol.com/ecy/private/seabooks.htm]. John Kohnen maintains the Nautical Fiction List which seeks to list every fictional work of a nautical theme ever written regardless of time-period. The list is updated every month. He's got some 430 authors and 1350 books listed already and invites additions from readers. Nautical Fiction List web-site is [http://www.efn.org/~jkohnen/booklist.html]. Hornblower fans will want to look over the C.S. Forester Society page devoted to those and other of the author's works.

It's located at: [http://www.teleport.com/~vamberry/]. Patrick O'Brian's publisher offers a page on the Jack Aubry Series. It's at: [http://www.wwnorton.com/pob/pobhome.htm].

Acknowledgments:  I would like to thank Ed Youngstrom, John Kohnen, Bill Carpenter [no relation] of the C.S. Forester Society, the folks at Nautical Mind and Armchair Sailor, and most especially Rich Merritt of Tall Ships Books. Any mistakes or omissions are totally my fault, but without their imput, this compilation would not be nearly as comprehensive or accurate as it is.

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