# What else would my husband like? (books)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [October 23, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892 "2009-10-23T19:33:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@1GothMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1GothMama)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/1 "2009-10-23T19:33:55Z")
I’ve seen a lot of good recommendation threads here, so I thought I’d give it a try. I’m brainstorming Christmas presents for my eternally hard to shop for husband and thought I might try to find some books he’d like. He’s read the entire Horatio Hornblower series and likes the Sharpe books as well. He’s also a Kipling fan, but I think that was more nostalgia for childhood stories.
So, any recommendations for books (series especially) similar to the Hornblower and Sharpe books? When I asked him what he liked about those he said it was the action and writing style, as well as the historical setting. I’ve never read any of these books (not my style - though the TV series/movies were entertaining) so I have no idea where to start looking for similar ones.
Any help is appreciated and will make my shopping just a little easier 🙂
Thanks!
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/2 "2009-10-23T19:36:20Z")
The [Flashman](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=flashman) series by George McDonald Fraser.
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### Author:  [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/3 "2009-10-23T19:38:20Z")
If he likes the Hornblower books, then he’ll probably like the [Aubrey Maturin series](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey%E2%80%93Maturin_series) by Patrick O’Brian.
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### Author:  [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/4 "2009-10-23T19:38:59Z")
The Master and Commander series. Crap, can’t remember the author. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, it concerns a British ship commander and his best friend who is an intelligence officer/naturalist. Supposed to be very historically accurate to what life was like on a British warship during the early 19th century. Someone with more knowledge will be along shortly with more and better details.
See above…
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### Author:  [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/5 "2009-10-23T19:42:16Z")
> [@Giles](#):
>
> If he likes the Hornblower books, then he’ll probably like the [Aubrey Maturin series](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey%E2%80%93Maturin_series) by Patrick O’Brian.
This, this, this. A thousand times this.
They’re twice as good as the Hornblower books and about 50 times better than Sharpe.
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### Author:  [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/6 "2009-10-23T20:21:33Z")
> [@NicePete](#):
>
> This, this, this. A thousand times this.
>
> They’re twice as good as the Hornblower books and about 50 times better than Sharpe.
Yes. Exactly. The Aubrey/Maturin books (or the Master & Commander series – the same thing) are the gold standard for historical fiction set during the Napoleonic Wars (actually, O’Brian’s books extend a bit beyond the Napoleonic Wars). They might just be the gold standard for historical fiction, period. In fact, it’s a shame that they’re assigned to the historical fiction ghetto. They are absolutely brilliant novels, among the best novels of the 20th century. Or even the best novels in English. I wish I could forget them and read them all over again. Even without being able to forget them, they’re worth re-reading.
It might also be fair to consider them as one long novel in twenty volumes.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/7 "2009-10-23T20:34:13Z")
If he likes Hornblower, he ought to like C. Northcote Parkinson’s _Richard Delancey_ series. He wrote them in conscious homage to Hornblower, and they’re the closest thing to Forester I’ve found:
**Devil to Pay
The Fireship
Touch and Go
Dead Reckoning
So Near, so Far
The Guernseyman**
Parkinson also wrote a biography of Hornblower (!): **the Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower**
has he read Forester’s other stuff? Forester wrote another naval novel set in the same time period, but with an American officer, **the Captain from Connecticut** , which is good. He also wrote several other tales set in the Napoleonic wars:
**The Gun** ,
**Rifleman Dodd**
He also wrote **The African Queen** , of course, and several books set in World war II:
**The Nightmare
The Man in the Yellow Raft
The General
The Last Nine Days of the Bismark**(AKA**Sink the Bismarck!**, the title of the movie made from it)
**The Ship**
He also wrote at least three Hornblower stories that are not part of the “standard” history. They remained out of print for a long time, but have recently appeared in anthologies. \*\*The Mammoth Book of Sea Battles includes one of these, and your husband might like the other stories in the collection:
> **[The Mammoth Book of Sea Battles: Great Stories and Classic Tales from the Golden...](https://www.amazon.com/Mammoth-Book-Sea-Battles-Stories/dp/0786709146)**
>
> The Mammoth Book of Sea Battles: Great Stories and Classic Tales from the Golden Age of Naval Warfare \[Ashley, Mike, Donachie, David\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. The Mammoth Book of Sea Battles: Great Stories and Classic...
There are several other naval series, but they’re not so easy to find. Alexander Kent wrote a series, and i have others at home I can write in about later.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/8 "2009-10-23T21:13:13Z")
Another vote for Patrick O’Brian.
[Ellis K. Meacham](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis_K._Meacham) wrote three novels whose protagonist commands military vessels of the East India Company. It has been several since I read them, and I believe you should first spend your money on O’Brian. 🙂
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### Author:  [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/9 "2009-10-23T21:26:49Z")
Patrick O’Brian without a doubt.
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### Author:  [@Staale\_Nordlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staale_Nordlie)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/10 "2009-10-23T21:42:39Z")
Try Naomi Novik’s Temeraire books (5 published so far).
First in series: [His Majesty’s Dragon](http://www.amazon.com/His-Majestys-Dragon-Temeraire-Book/dp/0345481283/).
If your husband doesn’t mind science fiction/space opera, David Weber’s Honor Harrington books (first in series: [On Basilisk Station](http://www.amazon.com/Basilisk-Station-Honor-Harrington/dp/0743435710/)) and Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet books (first in series: [Dauntless](http://www.amazon.com/Dauntless-Lost-Fleet-Book-1/dp/0441014186/)) are good as well.
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### Author:  [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/11 "2009-10-23T21:50:33Z")
**Bernard Cornwell,** including his series on the Civil War (Nathaniel Starbuck Chronicles)
**Dewey Lambdin**
**Wilbur Smith** - the Courtney Family series
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### Author:  [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/12 "2009-10-23T22:08:51Z")
Another Master and Commander fan here. They are just wonderful, amazing books.
As a word of warning, it did take me a bit before I got into it. He writes in an older style (think Jane Austen) and the series is so dense with sailing terms it can be difficult to understand what’s happening at times. Just keep reading and eventually it will click and when it does it is so, _so_ rewarding.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/13 "2009-10-23T22:22:02Z")
> [@](#):
>
> If he likes Hornblower, he ought to like C. Northcote Parkinson’s Richard Delancey series. He wrote them in conscious homage to Hornblower, and they’re the closest thing to Forester I’ve found
I’ve always found that the Lord Nicholas Ramage series by Dudley Pope the closest to Hornblower.
Ramage (1965)
Ramage and the Drumbeat (aka Drumbeat) (1968)
Ramage and the Freebooters (aka The Triton Brig) (1969)
Governor Ramage RN (1973)
Ramage’s Prize (1974)
Ramage and the Guillotine (1975)
Ramage’s Diamond (1976) Diamond Rock
Ramage’s Mutiny (1977)
Ramage and the Rebels (1978)
The Ramage Touch (1979)
Ramage’s Signal (1980)
Ramage and the Renegades (1981)
Ramage’s Devil (1982)
Ramage’s Trial (1984)
Ramage’s Challenge (1985)
Ramage at Trafalgar (1986)
Ramage and the Saracens (1988)
Ramage and the Dido (1989)
Some other Napoleonic naval officer series:
Richard Bolitho series by “Alexander Kent” (Douglas Reeman)
Richard Bolitho, Midshipman (1975)
Midshipman Bolitho and the ‘Avenger’ (1978)
Band Of Brothers (2006)
Stand Into Danger (1980)
In Gallant Company (1977)
Sloop Of War (1972)
To Glory We Steer (1968)
Command a King’s Ship (1973)
Passage To Mutiny (1976)
With All Despatch (1988)
Form Line of Battle! (1969)
Enemy In Sight! (1970)
Flag Captain (1971)
Signal - Close Action! (1974)
The Inshore Squadron (1977)
A Tradition Of Victory (1981)
Success To The Brave (1983)
Colours Aloft! (1986)
Honour This Day (1987)
The Only Victor (1990)
Beyond The Reef (1992)
The Darkening Sea (1993)
For My Country’s Freedom (1995)
Cross Of St. George (1996)
Sword of Honour (1998)
Second to None (1999)
Relentless Pursuit (2001)
Man of War (2003)
Heart of Oak (2007)
Nathaniel Drinkwater series by Richard Woodman
An Eye of the Fleet
A King’s Cutter
A Brig of War
The Bomb Vessel
The Corvette
1805
Baltic Mission
In Distant Waters
A Private Revenge
Under False Colours
The Flying Squadron
Beneath the Aurora
The Shadow of the Eagle
Ebb Tide
Alan Lewrie series by Dewey Lambdin
The King’s Coat (1989)
The French Admiral (1990)
The King’s Commission (1991)
The King’s Privateer (1992)
The Gun Ketch (1993)
For King and Country (omnibus) (1994)
H.M.S. Cockerel (1995)
A King’s Commander (1997)
Jester’s Fortune (1999)
The King’s Captain (2000)
Sea of Grey (2002)
Havoc’s Sword (2003)
The Captain’s Vengeance (2004)
A King’s Trade (2006)
Troubled Waters (2008)
The Baltic Gambit (2009)
Isaac Biddlecomb series by James L. Nelson
By Force of Arms (1997)
The Maddest Idea (1997)
The Continental Risque (1998)
Lords of the Ocean (1999)
All the Brave Fellows (2001)
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### Author:  [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/14 "2009-10-23T22:37:22Z")
> [@omgzebras](#):
>
> As a word of warning, it did take me a bit before I got into it. He writes in an older style (think Jane Austen) and the series is so dense with sailing terms it can be difficult to understand what’s happening at times. Just keep reading and eventually it will click and when it does it is so, _so_ rewarding.
My understanding is that O’Brian deliberately used obscure language so that you could appreciate the Doctor’s position - being dropped into a world that he didn’t understand and never really felt at home in.
I bet the average reader only understands about 50% of what is going on at first - and O’Brian makes no effort to explain but eventually you start to grok it and just enjoy the ride. And what an incredible ride it is.
Just talking about it makes me hungry for soused pig’s face and spotted dick.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/15 "2009-10-24T00:09:35Z")
> [@kevlaw](#):
>
> I bet the average reader only understands about 50% of what is going on at first -
Sh\_t.
Try 10% in y case.
I’m not as mad as Marturin…“Port? This _is_my left hand is it not?”
Aubrey: “Stephen, you are facing aft.”
I became disappointed with the Alan Lewrie novels. For a bit I thought we had a sea going Flashman, but he became a vaguely unethical Hornblower wannabe.
Too much history stuck in as an aside, not done nearly as well as Aubrey or Flashman.
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### Author:  [@1GothMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1GothMama)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/16 "2009-10-24T04:00:56Z")
You guys are awesome! Thanks so much for all the suggestions, I’ll definitely be checking them out, especially O’Brian and Parkinson. They both sound up his alley.
**Little Nemo** Wow! What a list! Thank you so much, I will check those out.
**Staale** Actually, he does like some sci fi, especially space operas and I know I’ve heard good things about the Honor Harrington books before, so I’m guessing he’ll be getting one of those under the tree.
Again, thanks all, this is great.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2009, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/17 "2009-10-24T04:10:08Z")
> [@1GothMama](#):
>
> Again, thanks all, this is great.
The honor is to serve.
🙂
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### Author:  [@Omphaloskeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omphaloskeptic)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/18 "2009-10-26T16:19:54Z")
> [@Staale\_Nordlie](#):
>
> If your husband doesn’t mind science fiction/space opera, David Weber’s Honor Harrington books (first in series: [On Basilisk Station](http://www.amazon.com/Basilisk-Station-Honor-Harrington/dp/0743435710/)) and Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet books (first in series: [Dauntless](http://www.amazon.com/Dauntless-Lost-Fleet-Book-1/dp/0441014186/)) are good as well.
[_On Basilisk Station_](http://www.baen.com/library/067157793x/067157793x.htm) is also available online at Baen’s free library.
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### Author:  [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/19 "2009-10-26T16:35:07Z")
Sticking with with the nautical theme:
**The Cruel Sea**
**The Caine Mutiny**
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### Author:  [@Jimson\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimson_Jim)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-else-would-my-husband-like-books/514892/20 "2009-10-27T19:54:11Z")
Yet another big fan of the O’Brian books. If he’s a fan of period pieces then why not a collection Sherlock Holmes stories. I picked up a complete collection used for just a few bucks.