Mystery - Sleepy Radio · Various Authors

Horatio Hornblower - Napoleon Is Defeated

April 11, 2026·20 min·1 clip

Hornblower bids farewell to his men, knowing only he, Marie, and the Count must continue their doomed mission to be shot at sight.

The episode opens with Hornblower reflecting on his duty as a naval officer harrying the enemy in a losing guerrilla war in the forests of the upper Loire. His force consists of only 30 exhausted men and two women, including Marie, the Vicomtesse de Grasset, who has cut her hair and carries a musket. They discover a proclamation by General Closin offering pardon to deserters from the King's cause, but it specifically excludes Hornblower, the Comte de Grasset, and Marie, who are to be shot at sight. Hornblower decides to part ways with most of his men, keeping only Marie and the Count to continue their doomed mission. They attempt to cross a river but find their boat sabotaged, and are soon ambushed by hussars. During the fight, Marie is shot and killed, and Hornblower is wounded and captured. He is court-martialed and sentenced to death, with the Count also condemned. In his cell, Hornblower reflects on his failures and the pain he has caused. As dawn approaches for his execution, a guard enters with news that Napoleon has been defeated at Waterloo, overturning the previous reports of French victories. This historical reversal spares Hornblower's life, ending the episode on a note of sudden reprieve amid the personal tragedy of Marie's death.

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