• Hornblower and the "Atropos"

  • By: C. S. Forester
  • Narrated by: Nicolas Coster
  • Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,032 ratings)

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Hornblower and the "Atropos"  By  cover art

Hornblower and the "Atropos"

By: C. S. Forester
Narrated by: Nicolas Coster
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Publisher's summary

"I find Hornblower admirable, vastly entertaining" - Winston Churchill

In the wake of a humbling incident aboard a canal boat in the Cotswolds, young Captain Horatio Hornblower arrives in London to take command of the Atropos, a 22-gun sloop barely large enough to require a captain. Her first assignment under Hornblower's command is as flagship for the funeral procession of Lord Nelson.

Soon Atropos is part of the Mediterranean Fleet's harassment of Napoleon, recovering treasure that lies deep in Turkish waters and boldly challenging a Spanish frigate several times her size. At the center of each adventure is Hornblower, Forester's most inspired creation, whose blend of cautious preparation and spirited execution dazzles friend and foe alike.

Public Domain (P)2009 Phoenix Audio

Critic reviews

"A rousing tale of history, character, and adventure...For once Hornblower is the mouse Instead of the cat, but he makes that role fully as dramatic as the other." ( Chicago Tribune)

What listeners say about Hornblower and the "Atropos"

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    623
  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Great book. Poor narrator.

All of the Hornblower books are excellent and this one is no exception. Forrester is a master of his craft and his detailed knowledge of how the British navy worked and how ships were sailed make the action believable and convincing.

Unfortunately this audio book is spoiled for me by the narrator who has a slow and mournful delivery that sounds like a vicar on Valium preaching a long and boring sermon.

The other books in this series are read by Christian Rodska who does a much better job.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Horrible reader!

Would you try another book from C. S. Forester and/or Nicolas Coster?

I will read anything C.S. Forester writes. I will never listen to Nicolas Coster again. If he is the only choice - I will read the book in print.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Nicolas Coster?

Christian Rodska!

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I do love the book - the overall performance was so awful that it ruined it for me. I was angry most of the time I listened because of the narrator. The book is another great story in the Hornblower series.

Any additional comments?

I have listened to other books in the Hornblower series read by Christian Rodska and loved them. The reader of this book is so absolutely awful I may not finish it. I will never buy another audiobook read by him and will read the book in print instead. I am having to listen at a 1.5 speed because the reader sounds so slow and drunk. If you enjoy Rodska's reading - you will be greatly disappointed.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

So disappointed I had to stop.

I ADORE the Hornblower stories. I HATED this version. I never thought I'd say this about this novel, but I couldn't finish this audio. The narrator sounds almost asleep. Hornblower's voice is lost in mush.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great fun and adventure in 1806

The author makes you feel like you now understand more what life was like in the early 1800's. And the reader does an excellent job with the various voices and accents and making you feel the excitement and tension.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Play at 1 1/2 speed

Any additional comments?

I have really enjoyed the Hornblower series, some have been taken aback that this title has a different narrator. I find the pace of this reader the issue and felt much better about the listen after setting the narration at 1 1/2 speed thus matchin the pace of the other books.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Hornblower, a 11-book series...

After hearing my first Hornblower auido book narrated by Nicolas Coster, I knew that I had to hear more. I discovered the C. S. Forester wrote 11 books in the series. I tried the first after hearing that Gene Roddenberry modeled his Captain Kirk on Hornblower. I've been able to get three unabridged Hornblowers by Coster, and I'm on the search for more. Meanwhile I bought all the paperback versions so read when I can't listen. I recommend both Hornblower and Coster wholeheartedly!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The little ship

C.S. Forester description of the Hornblower family travelling on the canal boat and the information about the canals was fascinating. When Hornblower arrives in London he takes command of the 22 gun sloop Atropos. He is assigned to plan and command the funeral for Adm. H. Nelson. The description and information about the funeral was great. Then Hornblower is off to the Mediterranean to join the fleet. He is assigned to retrieve the payroll off a ship that sunk in Turkish waters, the suspense of the salvage and the sea battles and long chase were great. Forester has the ability to paint pictures with words. If you enjoy a sea story or are a history buff you will enjoy the book.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

The reader is spot-on

The reader, Nicolas Coster, really captures the feel of the time period for me with his unhurried, stately manner. (He displays an excellent range of character performance as well). I'm only disappointed that Audible does not carry other Hornblower books read by Mr. Coster.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Really Good Book Read As A Bed-Time Story

I'm a huge fan of C.S. Forester's Hornblower series - I have them all in print, and was working my way through the audible version in series order. It was going swimmingly!

Then they changed Narrators. Disaster. Mr Coster's tone reminds me of someone reading a bedtime story - it is soft, even, and the volume lowers steadily throughout the sentence. Imagine "he parried the blow, then hacked and hacked again, fighting for his life" being read in the same tone as "lullaby, and good nite..."

I'm sure his melodic drone is great for some stories (Copperfield?), just not this one.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

different narrator

doesnt live up to the person who read the previous books in date continuity. try it on 1.25 or even 1.5 speed to make him sound like hes not reading you a bedtime story.

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1 person found this helpful