C.S. Forester

“Hornblower did not want to run away. He had the weather gauge, and in a moment he could set all sail and come to the wind and stand out to sea, but he did not want to. He could be quite sure that if he were to do so the frigate would follow his example and chase him, ignominiously, out into the Atlantic with his tail between his legs. A bold move would stimulate his crew, would impress the French and–this was the point—would subdue his own doubts about himself. This was a test. His instinct was to be cautious, but he told himself that his caution was probably an excuse for cowardice. His judgement told him that there was no need for caution; his fears told him that the French frigate was planning to lure him within range of her guns and then overwhelm him. He must act according to his judgement and he must abhor the counsel of his fears, but he wished his heart would not beat so feverishly, he wished his palms would not sweat nor his legs experience these pins-and-needles feelings.”

―C.S. Forester, “Hornblower and the Hotspur”

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Gene Roddenberry so enjoyed Forester’s stories that he fashioned Captain Robert M. April of the SS Yorktown on Hornblower:

“Space-age Captain Horatio Hornblower, lean and capable both mentally and physically.

A colorfully complex personality, he is capable of action and decision which can verge on the heroic — and at the same time lives a continual battle with self-doubt and the loneliness of command.

As with similar men in the past (Drake, Cook, Bougainville and Scott), his primary weakness is a predilection to action over administration, a temptation to take the greatest risks onto himself. But, unlike most early explorers, he has an almost compulsive compassion for the plight of others, alien as well as human and must continually fight the temptation to risk many to save one.”

–Stephen E Whitfield, “The Making of Star Trek” Of course, April and the Yorktown became James T. Kirk and the USS Enterprise.

* * *

The early episodes of “Star Trek” showed Kirk’s moments of reflection and the loneliness of his command. It’s hinted that his love for the ship kept him from forming any real relationships or starting a family. Eventually, the self-doubt fell to the wayside as writer’s focused more on the hands-on leader, going where angels fear to tread. And yet, in rare quiet moments, Kirk’s reflections sound a lot like Hornblower:

“‘All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.’ You could feel the wind at your back in those days. The sounds of the sea beneath you, and even if you take away the wind and the water, it’s still the same. The ship is yours. You can feel her. And the stars are still there, Bones.”

–Captain James T. Kirk to Doctor Leonard McCoy in “The Ultimate Computer,” Story by Laurence N. Wolfe, Teleplay by D. C. Fontana.

* * *

Here Kirk is quoting the poem “Sea Fever” (1902) by John Masefield.

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

* * *

Why was I writing all of this again? Oh, right — C.S.Forester was born on this day in 1899.

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