C. S. Forester
The British novelist who single-handedly revived the nautical adventure genre with his brilliant, introspective hero Horatio Hornblower.
1899–1966 (age 67)·British novelist·Birthday: August 27·The Lost Generation
Biography
C. S. Forester invented Horatio Hornblower, a Royal Navy officer of the Napoleonic Wars, without ever serving at sea himself. Born Cecil Smith in Cairo, he studied medicine in London before abandoning it for writing, adopting his pen name for a fresh start. After modest early efforts, he struck literary gold with a hero who was both courageous and deeply human — plagued by self-doubt and a stutter that made his tactical brilliance more compelling. Forester wrote the series out of chronological order over decades. It became a global phenomenon, defining naval adventure for a modern audience. He also wrote 'The African Queen,' a tense novel that became a classic film. His work extended beyond Hornblower, yet the character remains his greatest creation.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
C. was born in 1899, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When C. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1899
C.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1899Born
President: William McKinley
1904Started school
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1912Became a teenager
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1915Could drive
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1917Could vote
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Turned 21
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1929Turned 30
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1939Turned 40
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1949Turned 50
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 60
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1966Died at 67
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
Key Achievements
- Created the Horatio Hornblower series, comprising 12 novels that defined the modern nautical historical adventure genre.
- Wrote 'The African Queen,' a bestselling novel later adapted into the acclaimed 1951 film starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.
- Authored 'The Good Shepherd,' a celebrated novel about a U.S. Navy destroyer captain during the Battle of the Atlantic.
Did You Know?
He suffered from arteriosclerosis, which severely limited his ability to travel or research later in life.
Forester wrote the Hornblower stories out of sequence, piecing together the hero's career over many years.
He lived in the United States during World War II and wrote propaganda for the British Ministry of Information.
“A ship is a floating prison, with the added chance of being drowned.”
