Lex

Browse

GenresShelvesPremiumBlog

Company

AboutJobsPartnersAffiliates

Resources

DocsInvite FriendsSupport

Legal

Terms of ServicePrivacy Policygeneral@lex-books.com(215) 703-8277

© 2026 LexBooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

C. S. Forester

C. S. Forester

C. S. Forester was a British author best known for his historical novels, particularly those set during the Napoleonic Wars and World War II. Born in Cairo, Egypt, and raised in England, Forester's experiences and education shaped his literary career. He gained prominence with his Horatio Hornblower series, which follows the adventures of a Royal Navy officer during the Napoleonic era. The series, starting with 'Mr. Midshipman Hornblower,' is celebrated for its meticulous attention to naval history and its complex, morally ambiguous characters, influencing the genre of naval fiction significantly. In addition to the Hornblower series, Forester wrote several other notable works, including 'The African Queen,' which blends adventure and romance against the backdrop of World War I in Africa. His ability to weave intricate plots with rich character development earned him a place among the significant writers of his time. Forester's works not only entertained but also provided insights into the human condition and the chaos of war, leaving a lasting legacy in both literature and film adaptations of his stories. His contributions to historical fiction and his exploration of the complexities of military life continue to resonate with readers and writers alike.

Famous Quotes

View all 6 quotes

“When a man who is drinking neat gin starts talking about his mother he is past all argument.””

The African Queen

“Clairvoyant, Hornblower could foresee that in a year's time, the world would hardy remember the incident. In twenty years, it would be entirely forgotten. Yet those headless corpses up there in Muzillac; those shattered redcoats; those Frenchmen caught in the four-pounder's blast of canister -- they were as dead as if it had been a day in which history had been changed.””

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

“I thank God daily for the good fortune of my birth, for I am certain I would have made a miserable peasant.””

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

“When a man who is drinking neat gin starts talking about his mother he is past all argument.””

The African Queen

“Clairvoyant, Hornblower could foresee that in a year's time, the world would hardy remember the incident. In twenty years, it would be entirely forgotten. Yet those headless corpses up there in Muzillac; those shattered redcoats; those Frenchmen caught in the four-pounder's blast of canister -- they were as dead as if it had been a day in which history had been changed.””

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

“I thank God daily for the good fortune of my birth, for I am certain I would have made a miserable peasant.””

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

Books from the author

right arrow

PaymentDeferred

C. S. Forester

Payment Deferred

Brown onResolution

C. S. Forester

Brown on Resolution

Napoleon andHis Court

1924

C. S. Forester

Napoleon and His Court

More authors like this

right arrow
Frans Eemil Sillanpää
1888-1964
Stephen Graham
1884-1975
Filson Young
1876-1938
Charles Oman
Charles Oman
1860-1946
Jaime de Magalhães Lima
Jaime de Magalhães Lima
1859-1936
Armando Palacio Valdés
1853-1938
Alfredo Oriani
Alfredo Oriani
1852-1909
Stephen McKenna
Stephen McKenna
1888-1967
Heikki Välisalmi
1886-1947
Aarni Kouta
1884-1924
Hugh Walpole
Hugh Walpole
1884-1941
Arvi Järventaus
1883-1939
Coningsby Dawson
Coningsby Dawson
1883-1959
Stefan Zweig
Stefan Zweig
1881-1942
Alfred Noyes
Alfred Noyes
1880-1958
H. L. Mencken
H. L. Mencken
1880-1956