Photo of C. S. Forester
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C. S. Forester

2 series 16 books in order 1920–2000

Cecil Scott Forester was an English novelist born in Cairo in 1899 to a British army officer. He was educated in London and initially studied medicine. After serving in the infantry during World War I, he turned to poetry, though this pursuit was brief. He later shifted to biography and fiction, eventually writing several best-selling novels, including The African Queen and The General. In 1937, he published the first of his Hornblower stories, Beat to Quarters, which is chronologically the fifth in the series. In 1940, Forester moved to Berkeley, California, where he lived for many years. He died in April 1966 while working on Hornblower and the Crisis. His works remain widely read, and his name is closely associated with naval literature.

Born
1899
Active years
1920–2000
Known for
Horatio Hornblower, Guild books series

Series by C. S. Forester

Horatio Hornblower

15 books in order · 1920–2000

  1. Cover of Commodore Hornblower

    Commodore Hornblower

    1945 · C. S. Forester

    Horatio Hornblower returns to sea holding the rank of Commodore. He commands a small squadron during the Napoleonic wars, and the fate of Europe…

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  3. Cover of Hornblower during the crisis

    Hornblower during the crisis

    Year unknown · C. S. Forester

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Guild books series

5 books in order · 1930–1937

  1. Cover of The case of the velvet claws

    The case of the velvet claws

    1933 · Erle Stanley Gardner

    In Perry Mason's debut, a woman calling herself Eva Griffin hires him to keep her name out of a scandal sheet that threatens to expose her connection…

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  2. Cover of The case of the sulky girl

    The case of the sulky girl

    1937 · Erle Stanley Gardner

    Frances Celane, a bratty heiress, visits Perry Mason to discuss a strange part of her father's will. The codicil states she would be disinherited if…

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  3. Cover of Death to the French

    Death to the French

    1932 · C. S. Forester

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  4. Cover of The case of the turning tide

    The case of the turning tide

    Year unknown · Erle Stanley Gardner

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  5. Cover of High wages

    High wages

    1930 · Dorothy Whipple

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Frequently asked questions

How many books has C. S. Forester written?

We list 16 books by C. S. Forester across 2 series, published between 1920–2000 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read C. S. Forester's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Commodore Hornblower.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy C. S. Forester's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Bibliography and reading orders compiled from verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.