I like how the book is procedural. Reminds me of the Bosch novels. Hornblower seems quite an egotistical self-centred man. From what I’ve read, the other Horatio, Nelson was also like this. I bought this book for £1.50 in a secondhand shop. Its original price shown on the back cover is 30p. This addition was published in 1973. The book was first published in 1938.