Hornblower and the Crisis

Infobox Book
name = Hornblower and The Crisis
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = C. S. Forester
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = Horatio Hornblower
genre = Historical novel
publisher = Michael Joseph, London
release_date = 1967
english_release_date =
media_type = Hardcover & paperback
pages = 158 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-7221-0506-1
preceded_by = Hornblower and the Hotspur
(1962)
followed_by = Hornblower and the Atropos

"Hornblower and the Crisis" is a 1967 historical novel by C. S. Forester. It forms part of the Horatio Hornblower series, and as a result of C.S. Forester's death in 1966, it 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. It was the eleventh and last book of the series to be published, but it is fourth in chronological sequence.

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.

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.

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 unfinished book stops at the point where Hornblower is persuaded to attempt the mission himself.

This book also includes two short-stories, "Hornblower and the Widow McCool", set early in Hornblower's career, and "The Last Encounter", set at the very end.