C.S. Forester

Author:
C.S. Forester

Date of birth: 27th August 1899
Place of birth: Cairo, Egypt

About the author:
C.S. Forester (born Cecil Louis Troughton Smith, 1899–1966) was a British author best known for his naval war novels, particularly the beloved Horatio Hornblower series. His works combined historical accuracy, compelling characters, and exciting maritime adventure, earning him a lasting place in the world of historical fiction.

Forester was born on August 27, 1899, in Cairo, Egypt, but was raised and educated in England. He briefly studied medicine at Guy’s Hospital in London before turning to writing. By the 1920s, he was a full-time author, producing novels, biographies, and screenplays.

His most enduring legacy is the Horatio Hornblower series, which follows the career of a Royal Navy officer during the Napoleonic Wars. The books, beginning with The Happy Return (1937), were widely praised for their authenticity and character development. Hornblower’s blend of brilliance and self-doubt made him a compelling hero, influencing many later fictional naval commanders.

In addition to the Hornblower novels, Forester wrote other notable works including The African Queen (1935), later adapted into the classic film starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, and The General (1936), a sharp critique of military leadership in World War I.

During World War II, Forester also wrote propaganda for the British Ministry of Information and lived for a time in the United States. He continued to write prolifically until his death on April 2, 1966, in Fullerton, California.

C.S. Forester’s blend of literary skill and historical adventure left a lasting impression, and his work continues to be enjoyed by fans of both naval fiction and classic storytelling.

Books that we've read by C.S. Forester (1):
Rifleman Dodd (1933).