At age 17, Horatio Hornblower embarks upon the career which will eventually carry him into a dozen major campaigns during the Napoleonic wars.

Captain Hornblower struggles to do his part to bring glory and victory to England during the Napoleonic Wars.

These thrilling tales of high-seas adventure in the Napoleonic era, which Winston Churchill found "vastly enteratining" and Ernest Hemingway recommended to "every literate I know", are being eagerly embraced by a new generation of readers. Back Bay takes pleasure in reissuing these classic tales in handsome new trade paperback editions.

Captain Hornblower is newly in command of his first ship of the line and single-handedly must wage war against four French ships.

Examines the history of the Barbary pirates, and discusses their relationship with the United States Navy in the early years of the country's entry into the shipping trade.

His cool judgment under fire shows that young Hornblower is maturing as he repeatedly defeats the Spanish warships.