This book can be considered the core of the Hornblower series by C.S. Forester. It continues the adventures and life of Horatio Hornblower, son of a country doctor and a powerful English Navy Officer during the times of Napoleon.
C.S Forester has the enviable knack of being able to wrap believable characters, history, and an amazing grasp of the technical aspects of sailing ships into a solidly gripping story. His characters interact with Hornblower on all levels, making decisions based on real situations and real emotions.
The three books collected here involve Hornblower as he becomes a Captain of a major warship, his exploits and battles against England's enemies, his own doubts and fears, and the constant struggle with the sea, the ship, and the enemy.
Capture, imprisonment, escape, intimate moments, and finally freedom define the man, his career, and his life.
Once you read these novels, you will insist on obtaining all of the series and rereading them over and over.