The Hornblower Saga: Mr Hornblower (Set 1)

C.S. Forester, The Hornblower Saga, Mr Hornblower. London: The Folio Society, [2018]. First printing thus. 229 × 152 × 27–35 mm. 3 vols (see below). Type: Bulmer. Printed and bound by Neografia in three-quarter blue cloth with a cloth front board printed and blocked with a different design by Joe McLaren for each volume. Aside from plates, McLaren has also contributed chapter headings, frontispieces and illustrations for the titles. Blue three-volume slip case printed with repeat wave design and blocked in gold (titled as above). The first set in the series.

The three volumes are as follows:

[1] C.S. Forester, Mr Midshipman Hornblower, introduced by Bernard Cornwell, illustrated by Joe McLaren. Pp. [i–iv] v–xiv [xv–xxiv], [1–2] 3–260 [261–264]: [4] leaves of black and white plates (facing pp. 26, 65, 100 and 188). Endleaves printed with wave design in two shades of blue. Seven maps are on pages [xvii–xxiii]. Concludes with the short stories ‘Hornblower and the hand of destiny’ and ‘Hornblower and the big decision’.

[2] C.S. Forester, Lieutenant Hornblower . . . Pp. [i–iv] v–ix [x–xvi], [1–2] 3–255 [256]: [4] leaves of black and white plates (facing pp. 79, 129, 174 and 229). Endleaves printed with wave design in yellow and blue. Three maps are on pages [xiii–xv].

[3] C.S. Forester, Hornblower and the Hotspur . . . Pp. [i–iv] v–xii [xiii–xviii], [1–2] 3–414: [4] leaves of black and white plates (facing pp. 121, 194, 262 and 358). Endleaves printed with wave design in orange and blue. Three maps are on pages [xv–xvii].

A rare set.Thrilling sea chases and shrewd secret missions, character-forming duels and mutinous crews, the clash of cutlass against cutlass and the stifling heat of white-hot cannon shot: Cecil Scott Forester’s Hornblower Saga, which traces the career of his inimitable and much loved hero, Horatio Hornblower, captures all the excitement, danger and intrigue of life at sea as part of His Majesty’s Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

Condition

Fine books unlikely to have ever been read, with tight bindings and clean, bright pages. All housed in a fine slipcase with minor shelf-wear. No bumps, nor dings. A beautiful set.