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Horatio Hornblower Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of Horatio Hornblower books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: March 2026
Quick Answer
What order should I read the Horatio Hornblower series? Start with "The Happy Return / Beat to Quarters" (1937) and follow publication order through all 13 books.
The complete Horatio Hornblower reading order is listed below in publication sequence.
Publication Order

The Happy Return / Beat to Quarters
1937

Ship of the Line
1938

Flying Colours
1938

The Commodore / Commodore Hornblower
1945

Lord Hornblower
1946

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower
1950

Lieutenant Hornblower
1952

Hornblower and the Atropos
1953

Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies / Hornblower in the West Indies
1957

Hornblower and the Hotspur
1962

Hornblower During the Crisis / Hornblower and the Crisis
1967

The Hornblower Companion (With: Samuel Bryant)
1964

Captain Hornblower R.N.
1965
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