Neither Ramage nor Bolitho seem on a par with Hornblower
Never read any of the hornblower series, but I find the movie / tv series thingys fairly av' IMHO.

My difference of opinion regarding the Bolitho series;

I have read them from the beginning, and have seen character developments / lives / deaths etc, so its like a soap opera, well sort of...but a manly one damn it!!!!!!!!

The guy who played Killick was right on, though...!
I was once a Killick, and find the eternal grumpyness that comes with it is well represented ;)

(not a steward, but an engineering Killick)