Hornblower arranges a duel in which only one pistol will be loaded; he calculates his chance of surviving the duel at an even half—"the Even Chance." Discuss the rationale behind engaging in a duel where one is fifty per cent likely to die.

After losing Marie Galante, Hornblower engages in lengthy and bitter introspection about his behavior upon assuming his first command. He eventually concludes that any half-wit midshipman would have done a better job. Do you agree? Why or why not?

While a prisoner on Pique, Hornblower starts a fire in the paint locker. The fire threatens to burn the ship to the waterline but is eventually contained, although Pique is subsequently captured by Indefatigable. In an after-action interview Hornblower avows no special knowledge of how the fire came about. Why do you think he refused to take credit for disabling...