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Nigeyb's Reviews > Flashman
Flashman (The Flashman Papers, #1)
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There's a recurring theme to the reviews I've read of 'Flashman' which is that whilst, by his own happy admission, he is a racist, scoundrel, bully, cad and coward, Flashman is also an engaging storyteller who has the happy coincidence to be an active participant in the middle of momentous historical events.
George MacDonald Fraser has done a magnificent job of evoking the Britain, India and Afghanistan of 1839 to 1842, and the literary conceit that what we are reading is the first part of a cache of papers, written by Flashman in old age (between 1900 and 1905), is brilliant, as it allows Flashman to add an occasional commentary to events and put them into perspective.
'Flashman' begins with his expulsion from Rugby school, as described in 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' and ends with his unlikely hero's return home to London following a number of memorable adventures during the retreat from Kabul, the Last Stand at the Battle of Gandamak and the Siege of Jalalabad, during the First Anglo-Afghan War. Afghanistan has a history of humbling armies and Empires.
Most of the people Flashman encounters were real people and the history in these books appears to be accurate. 'Flashman' is a wonderful way to learn about history whilst enjoying a ripping yarn that is both funny and gripping.
I was delighted to learn that there are 12 books in the series:
Flashman (1969)
Royal Flash (1970)
Flash for Freedom! (1971)
Flashman at the Charge (1973)
Flashman in the Great Game (1975)
Flashman's Lady (1977)
Flashman and the Redskins (1982)
Flashman and the Dragon (1985)
Flashman and the Mountain of Light (1990)
Flashman and the Angel of the Lord (1994)
Flashman and the Tiger (1999)
Flashman on the March (2005)
I look forward to reading them.
George MacDonald Fraser has done a magnificent job of evoking the Britain, India and Afghanistan of 1839 to 1842, and the literary conceit that what we are reading is the first part of a cache of papers, written by Flashman in old age (between 1900 and 1905), is brilliant, as it allows Flashman to add an occasional commentary to events and put them into perspective.
'Flashman' begins with his expulsion from Rugby school, as described in 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' and ends with his unlikely hero's return home to London following a number of memorable adventures during the retreat from Kabul, the Last Stand at the Battle of Gandamak and the Siege of Jalalabad, during the First Anglo-Afghan War. Afghanistan has a history of humbling armies and Empires.
Most of the people Flashman encounters were real people and the history in these books appears to be accurate. 'Flashman' is a wonderful way to learn about history whilst enjoying a ripping yarn that is both funny and gripping.
I was delighted to learn that there are 12 books in the series:
Flashman (1969)
Royal Flash (1970)
Flash for Freedom! (1971)
Flashman at the Charge (1973)
Flashman in the Great Game (1975)
Flashman's Lady (1977)
Flashman and the Redskins (1982)
Flashman and the Dragon (1985)
Flashman and the Mountain of Light (1990)
Flashman and the Angel of the Lord (1994)
Flashman and the Tiger (1999)
Flashman on the March (2005)
I look forward to reading them.
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Reading Progress
October 12, 2016
–
Started Reading
October 12, 2016
– Shelved
October 12, 2016
–
3.1%
"Enjoyable opening chapter which describes what happens after Flashy was expelled from Rugby for drunkenness."
page
10
October 12, 2016
–
10.22%
"The duel is classic Flashy skullduggery, and very amusing, as are his initial impressions of Scotland"
page
33
October 12, 2016
–
15.48%
"Married and then off to India. Flashman is making a bit of pig's ear of his military career, but he's already alerted the reader that this posting will be the making of him."
page
50
October 12, 2016
–
24.77%
"Flashman thinks he is going to get a cushy posting after a bit of good fortune however ends up in Kabul, Afghanistan."
page
80
October 13, 2016
–
39.63%
"A mob storms the house of Sir Alexander Burnes, one of the senior British political officers in Kabul, something Flashy predicted. Ripping stuff."
page
128
October 13, 2016
–
44.89%
"Akbar Khan holds Flashman hostage having saved him from Gul Shah's inventive plot to murder him. Lots to love in this account of the events leading up to the first Anglo-Afghan War"
page
145
October 13, 2016
–
50.46%
"The retreat from Kabul - yet another fiasco by General Elphinstone"
page
163
October 14, 2016
–
68.11%
"Just when Flashy thinks he has a clear run to India he is captured and faces appalling revenge"
page
220
October 15, 2016
–
Finished Reading
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Eleanor
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Oct 16, 2016 03:36AM
I have read four of five of them, and think they are brilliant. So well done, and Flashy is such a rotter!
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Eleanor wrote: "Flashy is such a rotter!"Just a bit.
One should never be ashamed in expressing his or her love for this series. I've heard of instances where people make suppositions about its fans (ie they have no problem with racism or misogyny), which to me shows they are clearly missing the point. It's satire, pure and simple. I'm looking forward to reading the third entry.
Thanks Tristan. I agree with everything you have said there. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I never finished the series but remember loving the first book in particular - if you remember Tom Brown's Schooldays it is even more enjoyable!
Judy wrote: "If you remember Tom Brown's Schooldays it is even more enjoyable!"Thanks Judy. I have never read 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' but remember a TV adaptation from my childhood. Is it worth reading would you say? I thought about it but a few reviews suggested it might actually be quite old fashioned and only sporadically interesting.
I think those reviews sound pretty spot on, though it is many years since I read it as a kid - I don't think I'd fancy reading it again as an adult, but it might be worth flipping through it to get a feel of the young Flashman! I also remember a TV adaptation when I was a child.
The problem with the Flashman books is that one day you'll have no more to read...
Yes indeed CQM. That said, I have a friend who reads the (not completely dissimilar) entire series of the Master and Commander books every year.
12 books and they're pretty much all great!Don't let yourself get sucked into reading 'The American' though. Flashman is in it, but his bits are the best five pages and there's a lot of book to get through for those five pages.
Thanks for the encouragement F.R. - and the tip about The American. I've got a bit sidetracked by the George Smiley books and the Bernie Gunther books, but should be able to get back to Flashy quite soon.
F.R. wrote: "12 books and they're pretty much all great!Don't let yourself get sucked into reading 'The American' though. Flashman is in it, but his bits are the best five pages and there's a lot of book to g..."
Couldn't agree more.
I think that the flashman books are wonderful, and GMF sprinkles the books with fascinating snippets from history. Of course flashy is a cad and a bounder, but he is a loveable rogue who delights in calling out the holy Joe's and do gooders. Do look out the other books in the series. All are worth a read though to my mind the quality dropped off a little towards the end. My favourite is probably Flashman at the charge, the first one I read
A dozen Flashman books? I'm slightly surprised I managed just one. Not really for me, but I hope you enjoy your travels with him.
Thanks Cecily. I’ve only read two so far, but hope to read number three in 2018. Too many books, too little time!
