Talk:Horatio Hornblower

Series at hand

I'm sorting out the titles and order; some confusion comes from books with Commonwealth and U.S. titles. Howard C. Berkowitz 19:19, 17 March 2009 (UTC)

I just added what i think is definitive order and dates. I don't recall the ranks so can't comment on that. I added flying colours in the right place. I think you had flying colours where happy return should have been. Will be visiting HMS Victory in a couple of weeks with my son. Closest i can think of for a pirate ship. Chris Day 19:27, 17 March 2009 (UTC)

Wow! I was going to start HMS Victory, but could we have a CZ Foreign Correspondent? (hmmm...in your case, isn't that domestic correspondence?).

I have most of the books in the other room; I can tell you Hornblower's career and ranks from memory, but I may not always match the right titles, especially midcareer. Eventually, I want to do a narrative of his career, with mappings to real-world events. Some research is needed into what was based on Nelson vs. Cochrane vs. Forester. Howard C. Berkowitz 19:53, 17 March 2009 (UTC)

Since I'll be visiting, and most there think I have an American accent, I think foreign might be better. Certainly my Hampshire accent is very diluted. Hopefully i can get some exclusive pictures for your article. Let me know what you want. Maybe a good one of the lower (medical) deck painted red? Or one of the sailors cots? Obviously Captains quarters (or would that be Admirals quarters)? Chris Day 20:06, 17 March 2009 (UTC)

Apropos of the medical deck, see a modern medical perspective at [1] and [2]. I'll have to put them into the Nelson article. Howard C. Berkowitz 20:20, 17 March 2009 (UTC)

Delighted with the collaboration

I definitely like the direction and participation; thanks to George Swan for starting this. Howard C. Berkowitz 21:32, 17 March 2009 (UTC)

Thomas Cochrane

How much influence for the character was from Thomas Cochrane? When i read the books it always seemed more like Nelson, especially with the seasickness and Lady Barbara (Lady Hamilton). Also early service in the Mediterranean. Yet, reading on the internet, these influences are barely mentioned compared to Cochrane. It seems that Forester himself avoided the topic. Chris Day 21:39, 17 March 2009 (UTC)

I'll give some sourcing on articles mentioning Cochrane, and indeed other officers. Perhaps Gareth can comment on the Scottish sources. Unquestionably, Nelson was the chief model. Howard C. Berkowitz 21:47, 17 March 2009 (UTC)