Flashman and the Mountain of Light

Flashman is a scoundrel, a rogue, a coward, and a philanderer, and I thoroughly adore him! David Case's rendition of this classic heroic villain is simply inspired. The way he renders Flashman's alarmed and yet hilariously sardonic observations in this deadpan voice is just perfect. I found myself laughing out loud at the combination of Fraser's wordcraft and Case's performance in many places.

You'll likely find this story more enjoyable if you are fond of anti-heroes, if you like dry British humor, and you have a yen for adventures. Flashman travels around the globe having wildly improbably adventures (this time in India), having sex with all the women he's physically able to, and being given credit he absolutely does not deserve for heroic feats he did his best to avoid performing.

I love, love, love this book, and all the others in the Flashman series.

Flashy is back in the saddle providing a delicious backstory to an enjoyable history lesson. David Case does a marvelous job with the male characters (his women need a bit of work). Great fun.

I cannot say enough about David Case's narration of the Flashman books. I discovered my first one a few months ago and was intrigued and then completely addicted. I am a studio artist and Flashy is my 'ear candy' when I'm working on a project.

When I finish listening to one of these books, I have a hard time returning to the 21st century. I find myself reeling around Victorian England using obscure phrases and puzzling my friends. In this case, the mountain of light is the diamond Kohinoor and the story circles loosely around the stone. Case treats us to the voices of a seven year old maharajah, his amoral maharani mama, a flock of stiff upper lipped Englishmen, a few Irish and Scots soldiers, Indian nabobs and generals,Queen Victoria, and all the riff raff that were a part of the battles for India in the 1840s.

The descriptions and scene setting are superb and I cannot believe reading these would be half as much fun as listening to Case's drawling Flashy describe the world as he sees it.

For anyone who wants to experience military history up close and personal--and the Flashman's unique take on it, these books are wonderful. There is enough ridiculous hilarity and Flashman's scrapes to balance beautifully with the gore and horror of the wars in which Flashy seems to be constantly landing. Be warned, lots of sex but more the lusty Tom Jones joyful variety than your standard steamy bodice ripper. Flashy has a way with the ladies and trouble seems to find him on a regular basis.

For a self-described coward he does manage to land in the soup and cover himself with glory five minutes later by accident--and we are along for the ride every blazing step of the way. So much fun to listen to! I'll be downloading another one tonight!

Others have written better reviews than I could ever create, so I'll only add a few cents worth here. Flashie considers himself a complete coward but. . .to us, he often seems to be doing the sensible thing. Or at least, the thing I'd be doing in that situation. I think the author has done an excellent job of capturing the standards of the time. A Victorian soldier must have felt incredible pressure to risk his life at the least opportunity, to live up to the standards he'd been taught. Flashie gives himself no credit for the many times he is brave or at least soldiers on despite his fear. So--for an anti-hero, he's often a pretty good guy. If you don't mind a little infidelity now and then. . .and now. . .and then. . .and now. . .and then.

Don't know why I had never heard of this series before reading about it in a Christopher Hitchens essay. Really and truly brilliant. Reading these is a twofer, you get a blood and guts history lesson while enjoying a comedic romp with the very callous and un p.c. Flashman.
Another home run from David Case the narrator, I don't know how he does all the different voices with such range.