Hornblower and the Crisis is a 1967 historical novel by C. S. Forester. It forms part of the Horatio Hornblower series. The cover of the 1974 paperback edition of one of Foresters non-fiction titles: Hunting The Bismarck Cecil Scott Forester was the pen name of Cecil Louis Troughton Smith (August 27, 1899 – April 2, 1966), an English novelist who rose to fame with tales of adventure with military themes. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Horatio Hornblower, 1st Viscount Hornblower, GCB (4 July 1776 - 12 January 1857) is a fictional character, an officer in the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, originally the protagonist of a series of novels by C. S. Forester, and later the subject of films and television programs. ... Combatants Allies: Austrian Empire[1] Kingdom of Portugal Kingdom of Prussia[1] Russian Empire[2] Kingdom of Spain[3] Kingdom of Sweden United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland[4] French Empire - Kingdom of Holland - Kingdom of Italy - Kingdom of Naples - Duchy of Warsaw - Kingdom of Bavaria[5] - Kingdom of... A historical novel is a novel in which the story is set among historical events, or more generally, where the time the action takes place in predates the time of the first publication -- distinguish and contrast the genre of alternate history. ... Penguin Group is the second largest trade book publisher in the world. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... Hornblower and the Hotspur (published 1962) is a Horatio Hornblower novel written by C. S. Forester. ... Hornblower and the Atropos is a 1953 historical novel by C.S. Forester. ... The cover of the 1974 paperback edition of one of Foresters non-fiction titles: Hunting The Bismarck Cecil Scott Forester was the pen name of Cecil Louis Troughton Smith (August 27, 1899 – April 2, 1966), an English novelist who rose to fame with tales of adventure with military themes. ... Horatio Hornblower, 1st Viscount Hornblower, GCB (4 July 1776 - 12 January 1857) is a fictional character, an officer in the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, originally the protagonist of a series of novels by C. S. Forester, and later the subject of films and television programs. ...

As a result of C.S. Forester's death in 1966, this book was left unfinished. There is a one-page summary of the last several chapters of the book found on the final page, taken from notes left behind from the author. Because this book is in the middle of the series, there are plenty of following stories that will fill in the blanks this book leaves open.

Plot summary

Hornblower has just finished his tour blockading Brest on HM sloop Hotspur. As he travels back to England for his next assignment, he is asked to participate in the court martial of Hotspur's new captain and officers. Hotspur ran aground and was lost the day after Hornblower turned over command. A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a military court that determines punishments for members of the military subject to military law. ...

Following the court martial, the officers travel back to England with Hornblower. On their way, they are pursued by a French brig, which they engage and disable. During the battle, Hornblower boards the brig and captures papers from the French captain's quarters. Back in England, he travels to the Admiralty with the captured documents. This coincides with the disappointing news that the French fleet under Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve has escaped into Ferrol after an indecisive engagement. Pierre-Charles-Jean-Baptiste-Silvestre de Villeneuve Pierre-Charles-Jean-Baptiste-Silvestre de Villeneuve (31 December 1763 – 22 April 1806) was a French naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. ... Ferrol can refer to: EUROPE Ferrol, Spain City and Naval Station in North Western Spain, European Union Note: Place of birth of both Francisco Franco (1892) the Spanish dictator and Pablo Iglesias (1850) founder of PSOE and UGT. ASIA Ferrol, Romblon Small Town in the Philippines Note: The Philippines got... The battle of Cape Finisterre was a naval battle of the War of the Third Coalition in the Napoleonic Wars, fought on 22 July 1805 off Cape Finisterre in northwest Spain between a British fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Robert Calder and a French fleet commanded by Admiral Pierre Charles...

Hornblower presents a daring plan to the Secretary of the Navy, to send false orders to Villeneuve, made possible because Hornblower's captured papers include an example of Napoleon Bonaparte's new signature. The orders are to draw Villeneuve out of a safe harbour and into engagement with Admiral Nelson, which leads to the Battle of Trafalgar. The book ends with Hornblower having undertaken to attempt the mission himself. Sir John Barrow, 1st Baronet, FRS , FRGS , LL.D (June 19, 1764 – November 23, 1848) was an English statesman. ... Napoleon I Bonaparte, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Mediator of the Swiss Confederation and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from... Combatants United Kingdom First French Empire, Spain Commanders The 1st Viscount Nelson † Pierre Charles Silvestre de Villeneuve Strength 27 ships of the line 33 ships of the line Casualties 449 dead, 1,214 wounded 4,480 dead, 2,250 wounded, 7,000 captured, 21 ships captured, 1 ship blown up...

This book also includes two short-stories, Hornblower and the Widow McCool, at the beginning of Hornblower's career, and The Last Encounter, at the very end. Hornblower and the Widow McCool is a short story by C. S. Forester, featuring his fictional naval hero, Horatio Hornblower. ...