Beat to Quarters // The Happy Return — C.S. Forester

The dauntless and courageous Captain Hornblower finds himself on his most harrowing mission in this thrilling fifth adventure in the world-renowned naval saga. On a grueling voyage to the Pacific aboard the frigate Lydia, he risks mutiny, death and the madness of his men to support a rebellion against the Spanish monarchy.

It is 1808, and Captain Hornblower, under secret orders, has kept the Lydia seven months at sea without touching land. His destination is the Gulf of Fonseca, where he is to form an alliance in support of an uprising in the Spanish- American colonies. Faced with outbreaks of disease and possible mutiny, Captain Hornblower is forced to confront the Natividad--an enemy ship of nearly double the gun force of the Lydia--and ordered to destroy it at all costs.