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Flying Colours

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Flying Colours

By: C. S. Forester
Narrated by: Christian Rodska
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About this listen

Exclusively from Audible

In the eighth instalment of C.S Forester's naval series, Horatio Hornblower finds himself down on his luck. Having been forced to surrender his ship to the French, following a long and bloody battle, he is imprisoned by his enemies and threatened with the prospect of being tried by French courts and executed if found guilty.

Knowing that he will also likely come up against a court martial in England for having lost command and possession of The Sutherland, Horatio's future is bleak and uncertain.

As his wife, Maria, struggles to deliver a healthy baby and the thought of his mistress, Lady Barbara, taunts him in his jail cell, Hornblower realises that he must do whatever it takes to prevent the impending doom heading his way and ensure that neither lady is left to fend for herself.

Hugely celebrated for his Napoleonic warfare series, and later for the publication of The African Queen, C. S. Forester came to writing much later than expected. Having originally studied medicine at Guy's Hospital, Forester first developed a love of story-telling after being inspired by his travels with the Royal Navy.

Sadly stricken with arteriosclerosis whilst voyaging to the Bering Sea, C.S. Forester was crippled in his later life, but his imagination and his skill with a pen survived for years to come.

Narrator Biography

Christian Rodska is an English television and voice actor best known for his role in the 1970s series Follyfoot.

From the The Monuments Men and The Eagle of the Ninth to The Likely Lads, Z Cars, The Tomorrow People, Coronation Street, Bergerac and Casualty, his extensive and diverse acting career has led him to become a highly solicited radio and audiobook narrator.

He has now voiced over 150 unabridged audiobooks including Winston Churchill's biographies, Evelyn Waugh's Men at Arms and Sebastian Faulks' A Possible Life. He has been praised for his ability to vary in vocal pace and style and as such, Christian boasts 12 Earphone Awards from Audiofile Magazine.

Please note: this is a vintage recording. The audio quality may not be up to modern day standards.

©1938 C.S. Forester (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
Fiction Historical Fiction Sea Adventures War & Military Adventure Transportation Royal Navy France
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What listeners say about Flying Colours

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Thoroughly good book.

Great book. Listened to it in a few days it was so gripping! Definitely a recommended download!

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2 people found this helpful

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Excellent, as ever.

I grew up with Hornblower. Now, in my 70s, I still get the same pleasure from listening to the excellent presentation of a thoroughly captivating story by the terrific Christian Rodska.

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Life at sea

description of Life at sea at that time and that difference in class and situation is enlightening.

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Excellent

Really enjoyed the listen excellent narration Hornblower alway a worthwhile adventure on to the next one.

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Just wonderful.

Exactly what the doctor ordered. Proper swashbuckling adventure. High seas and distant shores. What more could I possibly want. Wonderful.

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Excellent story as always

Excellent story, kept me guessing how Hornblower was going to get out of this fix. And Christian Rodska is the perfect narrator who provides life and character to the story and its characters without you noticing.

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Excellent entertainment

Enjoyed Flying Colours tremendously; it reveals a different aspect of Hornblower, including the romantic. Once you’ve got this far in the series you just keep going !

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Flying colours

Not too bad bit slow in the beginning then waffling in the middle but came good at the end. Ok 👌

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One of the best I have read ..!!

Great narration and a wonderful presentation, it would make a great movie..or a television series

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Doesn’t disappoint

A lot of excessively good fortune for Hornblower in this one - but it is clearly setting the scene for his later life. I enjoyed the change of scenery!

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