The Hostage

by C.S. Forester, Ian McNee (Illustrator)

Stories in the Travelman Short Stories series take the reader to places of mystery, fantasy, horror, romance, and corners of the universe yet unexplored. In turn, readers take them on the bus or subway, slip them into briefcases and lunchboxes, and send them from Jersey to Juneau. Each classic or original short story is printed on one sheet of paper and folded like a map. This makes it simple to read while commuting, convenient to carry when not, and easy to give or send to a friend. A paper envelope is provided for mailing or gift-giving, and both are packaged in a dear plastic envelope for display. The cost is not much more than a greeting card.

(included in the short story collection "the Nightmare")

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

24 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1970

About the author

Cecil Scott Forester was the pen name of Cecil Louis Troughton Smith, an English novelist who rose to fame with tales of adventure and military crusades. His most notable works were the 11-book Horatio Hornblower series, about naval warfare during the Napoleonic era, and The African Queen (1935; filmed in 1951 by John Huston). His novels A Ship of the Line and Flying Colours were jointly awarded the 1938 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction.

Reviews

[Ivana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hostage is a short story about the war between Germans and Americans and the law of Hostages (if someone were to desert or wasn't physically able to continue the war, his family could get killed).

General Dexter was disgracefully discharged from his position after losing men at some battle. I can't really remember the name. After couple years, he received orders from the Führer that he must defend his country near the Belgium border even if it's useless. Torn between what he should do and what his moral obligation is, Dexter made a choice that will change the course of the battle an the course of all soldier lives.

At first it was hard for me to understand the story because English is my second language and it contains many military terms which I didn't understand. Many of those words are archaisms even in English. After the third re-reading and discussing in class, I must confess I loved the story, especially the end and the braveness of both Dexter and his wife.

[Christian Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chilling collection of short stories surrounding different characters and events in the third reich.

The Unbelievable - "to the tugmaster... It was fast more unbelievable the he should have to hound wailing women from out of the warmth and shelter of below deck up into the killing cold. It was unbelievable the Russians should be in Königsberg, that the Reich should be falling in ruins, that the advent of the nazi party should have resulted in all these horrors, that in the shelter of the wheelhouse should be a young able bodied man while women and children died of exposure on his deck; unbelievable but true; it was all part of the same picture."

The hostage - "far away in east Prussia, in a gloomy headquarters dug out deep below the gloomy pine woods, a frantic tyrant raved like a maniac - like the maniac that by now he was - because ten thousand men were alive whom he wished dead."

[ephyjeva · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an assigned read for me and, surprisingly, quite an interesting short story compared to the majority of stuff I've had to read for school. Aside from the fact that I absolutely love historical fiction (especially World War II related), I must say that the writing style in this novella is simply beautiful. The unexpected turnout only added up to the emotional impression. Overall, enjoyable enough for me to be able to rate it three out of five stars.

[Dixter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best love story ever. Told from the opposite end of life than is usual.
This short story is one of a number published together. They deal with the human choices made by Germans leading upto and during the WW2. All human life is here. There are stories of cowardice, treachery, mistskes and this one about love. Like a bright pearl against a very dark background this story shines with the brightest hope. The world is made better by honest decent people who love each other and also their country or at least their counrymen and women.
The whole collection is a catalogue of what happens in wartime and the inexorable drive towards brutality and evil. This one story is heart liftingly redemptive.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

good