C. S. Forester is one of the most famous and popular authors in Age of Sail naval fiction, and shortly after his death in 1966 his final unfinished work, Hornblower and the Crisis, was published. Although there were some notes on what was intended to happen many fans of the series were disappointed.
Now is seems John Mahon, with the support of Forester's sons, has taken up the challenge of filling in the gaps and the result is The Jamaican Affair of 1805, released on Kindle.
George Forester says "John Mahon is an older fan of Hornblower with an inventive mind. This book, which takes off from, but in no way copies, the unfinished last book by C.S.Forester, Hornblower During the Crisis, was a challenge to himself which he accepted. We think he did a fine job. We hope you enjoy it."
From the cover "Here we meet again Horatio Hornblower by the new author, John Mahon, in a new adventure approved by the sons of CSForester. The stirring action begins where the unfinished last Hornblower adventure (Hornblower During the Crisis) written by C.S.Forester ends. Hornblower travels as a spy disguised as a servant through Spain attempting to carry out the orders of the First Lord of the Admiralty. After a short spell in Portugal where newly invented spinnaker sails are fitted to his ship, he's off to Jamaica to protect the island against a possible French invasion by four ships loaded with Napoleon's soldiers. Several attractive women interfere with his conscience as he carries out his duty; his wife has an interlude with Lord Nelson. All the intricacies of the plot click together in this very good read about Hornblower, while keeping his history and character intact."
There is currently one review on Amazon that says "The book has the feel of CSF's Hornblower........ I thoroughly enjoyed the book and enjoyed getting the completion of the adventure from the mission to deliver orders to Villeneuve to Horatio's taking command of HMS Atropos."
Time will tell what dedicated Hornblower fans think of it.
UPDATE: It did not take long. An early review is very negative about the quality of writing and the portrayal of HH.
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(Information courtesy eNet Press and Amazon)
