Flashman

Publisher's Summary

The story of what happened to Flashman, the caddish bully of Tom Brown's Schooldays, after he was expelled in drunken disgrace from Rugby school in the late 1830s. This is the first of George Macdonald Fraser's hilarious satires starring Harry Paget Flashman.

©2012 George MacDonald Fraser (P)2012 Random House Audio

Real history, real drama, real comedy

GM Fraser was a real historian, and a WWII vet, so he was the perfect person to show the real history of some of the most infamous battles of all time through a clever lense. Harry Flashman, the bully of Tom Brown's "School Days" lives a full life as the explemplary war hero in every famous military action of British Empire from the 1840's to 1900. Now in his 80s he writes a secret memoir revealing how he was actually a coward, cheat, rake and general cad. The papers, "discovered" in the 1960's later are raw, wry and very very real in its depiction of (in this the first episode) one of the most infamous, stupid and senseless military disasters, the retreat from Kabul.
This is the first audio book I have bought where I had read the book previously, but this and the 4th book of the series are my favorite books of all time. I would, on my more critical days give it a 4 because it did not incorporate the fascinating footnotes. However, upon reflection, I could not actually see how they would have done it. Still, I wish they had included a reading of the footnotes as an addendum, as Fraser uses them to add clarifications and minor corrections to Flashman's recollections. As many other historians have noted, the Flashman papers, though fiction could be used as history textbooks. American readers will be fascinated by the stories (not taught in our schools) of the various British military disasters, and the other novels dealing with US history will no doubt fascinate the British readers.
The charm of the story is the old man telling the story of the young man with all the remembrances and retrospective insights. The narration captures this well, though the youthful voices and female voices are not as convincing as the old Flashman and other senior characters.
Americans would have done well to have read this book prior to invading Afghanistan.

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Flashmaniacs Rejoice!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Flashman to be better than the print version?

Far superior, the audio edition is perfect for people unfamiliar with British military history or many of the historical figures of Flashman's age.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Flashman?

Flashman's duel of honor, ( in which he fixes the outcome) which sets the ball rolling for his "heroics" in Afghanistan. He becomes the talk of military society and his gentlemenly conduct lauded when in reality his dishonesty saved his bacon from the fire.... the beginning of many such hilarious situations our protagonist finds himself in.

Have you listened to any of David Case’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to many of his performances, and this one is just as excellent. Great voices in Mr. Cases repitoire.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not just this audio Flashman but all in the "Flashman Papers" series!!!! Please bring us Flashman's Lady and Flashman in the Great Game and convert abridged into unabridged format.

Any additional comments?

The Flashman papers will take you on a rollicking adventure through the annals of British Military history through the eyes of a cowardly, bullying, lechering, and most of all hilarious British officer in the 19th Century. You are in for a treat!!!

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Its Aubrey/Maturin meets Jeeves and Wooster

Any additional comments?

Don't know how this series flew under my radar for so long! Caught a reference to it in Charlie Wilson's War (also great) and checked it out. Fans of Wodehouse and Patrick O'Brian will enjoy very much. David Case (who was also Frederick Davidson) narrates impeccably. No waste of a credit here.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

The Perfect Antidote to Political Correctness

If you could sum up Flashman in three words, what would they be?

Depraved. Cowardly. Funny.

What did you like best about this story?

To most Americans, the First Afghan War is a little known part of history, and it made me more interested in this period. What happened was horrific. The first part story was infused with comedy, but the second tragic part is pure spell-binding action. Under the circumstances, cowardly as Flashy was, I couldn't blame him for running for his life.

Which character – as performed by David Case – was your favorite?

Harold Flashman

If you could rename Flashman, what would you call it?

Flashman - it's perfect.

Any additional comments?

George McDonald Fraser's had the rare ability to create a likable "hero" who has no heroic virtues and every conceivable vice. He may be selfish, cowardly, and - oh, yes - depraved, but there is wisdom lurking beneath his cynicism. That said, "Flashman" is not for the prudish, the politically correct, or the faint of heart.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Cads, rogues, and a Little History-

What did you love best about Flashman?

I'm a historical history buff and I enjoy taking my history with a spoonful of sugar.

I love the fast moving story line and Flashman, he just tickles me.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Flashy of course. Sometimes you get tired of the traditional hero and are in the mood for a Cowardly Rogue.

What about David Case’s performance did you like?

Narrator was perfect, he just seemed to catch the irony of Flashman in his intonations. I'm American but I found his English Accent understandable and just downright enjoyable

Any additional comments?

Try the first book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Flashman = Basil Faulty and Indiana Jones

Listening to this book I could imagine it a hilarious film .
I was surprise to discover that Flashman has been made a movie star in 1975
I think its time for a reboot

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Meet Harry Paget Flashman, cad and coward!

He was known only as Flashman (the cowardly bully and Tom Brown's antagonist) in Thomas Hughes 1857 British classic Tom Brown's Schooldays. In the12 volume The Flashman Papers he identifies himself as Harry Paget Flashman. This book is the first of the 12 volumes. Books 5, 6, and 12 are not available in audio format, but the other 9 are. All 12 are available in Kindle format. During the next year I plan to review all 9 of the audio books that are available. This review is lengthy because I am providing background helpful to those not familiar with this offbeat and fun series.

British author George MacDonald Fraser released the 12 novels starting in 1969 and ending in 2005 three years before his death. The idea of each book is that it is taken from the surviving papers of Harry Flashman who died in 1915 at the approximate age of 90. So the books in the series are all written in the first person of Harry Flashman.

A lot of different words could be used to describe Harry Flashman. The ones I like most are "cad" because of the way he viewed and treated the fairer sex, "coward" for the way he acted running away when he perceived any type of threat, and "lucky" because he was always perceived as heroic even when he was most cowardly. This book and this series are best viewed as extreme, but excellent, British satire. The novels in the series have a huge loyal following, especially in Great Britain but also elsewhere including the US. When my wife and I lived in England in the mid-1990's The Flashman Papers were hugely popular.

This novel, Flashman, should be listened to first, but before that listen to the 1857 British classic Tom Brown's Schooldays where schoolboy Flashman is a relatively minor character and antagonist of Tom Brown. Flashman (this novel) starts with Harry Flashman being ejected from Rugby Public School for behavior associated with excessive alcohol use. He then begins his long military career as a lieutenant.

Very few readers/listeners to The Flashman Papers are neutral about the novels. They either love them or hate them. In his papers Harry Flashman is brutally honest about himself. He is also historically accurate.

It is likely too early to call The Flashman Papers British literary classics, but many of the readers do make that claim. There novels are fun reads! I certainly recommend them. Following military man Harry Flashman as he travels to his assignments around the 19th century British empire is indeed great fun.

Warning, The Flashman Papers are crude, sexist, and generally politically incorrect.

Finally, the voice of Brit narrator David Case is always pitch perfect.

7 of 10 people found this review helpful

Hilarious!!!!

The only way to enjoy this series is to listen to David Case's reading!!!!! It is perfect!!!!!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fabulous

What made the experience of listening to Flashman the most enjoyable?

A joy to listen to and laugh aloud. An easy way to absorb 19th century British history

Who was your favorite character and why?

Harry Flashman, of course

Which character – as performed by David Case – was your favorite?

the above

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

it made me roar with laughter at it's complete politically in correctness

Any additional comments?

as Harry would say: 'health and saftey be damned'

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

If you love History and Rogues you will love Flash

What made the experience of listening to Flashman the most enjoyable?

Flashman is an historical Forrest Gump. He is everywhere the English were during the 1800's. What makes Flashman even more unique is the books are written in first person and Flashman is the antitheses of a hero. He is cowardly, lying, adulterous and hysterical. I find myself laughing out loud and also going to Google to look up a character from history or a battle that Flashman is involved in.

What other book might you compare Flashman to and why?

The Flashman Books are a cross between the Sharpe stories and Forrest Gump. When you read a bunch of these books you find Flashman in Afghanistan, India, American West and South. The other really cool thing is that you meet many of the greatest characters in Western History in his books.

Which scene was your favorite?

Flashman is surrounded by brave men in a last stand being assailed by Afghan fighters. The battle looks hopeless. Flashman is cowering while trying to surrender and give up the colors.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

If moved means laughed then many

1 of 1 people found this review helpful