Re the Hornblower books, regshoe is a masochist who is reading by pub order, thus putting the worst novels first. I almost always recommend starting with Mr Midshipman Hornblower (first by internal chronology) or Lieutenant Hornblower (second by internal chronology, the strongest novel in the series and a good stand-alone story).

But in my opinion, Lord Hornblower is the worst novel of the series. I'd hate for you to judge the series as a whole by it.