PatFlashman
May 19th 2008 12:10
The first book of the Flashman series is simply called Flashman, but it isn't the first Flashman book that I've read. You can read a wonderful review of Flashman At The Charge written by a very talented young man (the writer of the review, not George MacDonald Fraser who wrote the book itself) by following this link: Really Long Link
To be honest, I probably enjoyed that other Flashman book a bit more than this one. Not that there is any real difference in quality between the books - both deal with the same type of subject matter in the same style which is both painstakingly accurate in a historical sense but also very funny. But the difference with the first Flashman book, compared to the other one I've mentioned, is that there are moments where Harry Flashman is absolutely detestable as a character - a feature which was completely absent from the later book.
There are two very clear instances in this book where Flashman isn't quite the character who I previously said would be at the top of my invite list should I be stupid enough to hold a dinner party (I'm a wonderful cook by the way, it's just that dinner parties are for people who are afraid to go to the pub. Who wouldn't prefer to be drinking beers with your pals at the local public bar instead of slaving away in the kitchen for a pack of ungrateful slobs?!).
Firstly, Flashman's previously likeable characteristic of cowardice becomes somewhat less likeable when he bawls like a little baby late in the book.
Secondly, he reveals himself as a rapist. The book casually describes Flashman's rape of an Afghani dancing girl and Flashman justifies his behaviour to the reader by saying that it was the only time in his life, and during the course of near uncountable conquests, that he resorted to rape. Flashman was previously a wife-basher of some repute, but I could deal with that because that was the style of the times, and to be fair, his wife was being tiresome. But the rape took things slightly too far.
Anyway, I'd still be happy to have Harry over for dinner and I'm sure he'd be a wonderful conversationalist. I just wouldn't trust him around any available, or even not-so-available, young (or old for that matter) females.
The plot of Flashman covers Harry's early days as a student at Rugby College, which come to an end with his expulsion for drunkeness. With his career as a schoolyard bully at an end, Flashman travels home to face his father, who is momentarily unimpressed with his son's behaviour, before getting on with his own hobby of being a drunkard. With little else going for him, Flashman enlists in the cavalry, hoping that his privileged background would allow him to look the part without any of the danger that would be faced by a poorer enlisted man. Things go well enough for young Harry, until an unfortunate series of events results in Flashman becoming a husband and packed off to fight in India in quick succession - both very unsatisfactory outcomes for Flashman but unavoidable in the circumstances.
From there, Flashman soon finds himself embroiled in the middle of the British occupation of Afghanistan as he is sent to serve in Kabul. It is here where the real action of the story takes place, and the plot follows Flashman's series of miraculous escapes and almost-escapes amongst the meticulously researched military background set out by Fraser.
In fact, the amount of historical detail and the interesting manner in which Fraser packs it into the pages of Flashman steals the show to a certain extent from the fictional going-ons of the novel. The novel is so well-researched that a number of academics with apparent knowledge of the Afghani conflict were convinced that it was a real (yet obviously exaggerated) memoir of a British soldier who served in Kabul at the time.
If you like one Flashman book, then you'll like them all. It's a very entertaining read and, as I said in my other review, the character of Flashman himself is central to that. It's a shame about the unpleasantness which takes place in the couple of passages which I refer to above, but I guess that just means that Harry Flashman is my favourite rapist.
I'm not sure if that's much of an accolade, but if you can think of a better rapist than Flashman, then I'd love to hear it in the comments section found below.
To be honest, I probably enjoyed that other Flashman book a bit more than this one. Not that there is any real difference in quality between the books - both deal with the same type of subject matter in the same style which is both painstakingly accurate in a historical sense but also very funny. But the difference with the first Flashman book, compared to the other one I've mentioned, is that there are moments where Harry Flashman is absolutely detestable as a character - a feature which was completely absent from the later book.
There are two very clear instances in this book where Flashman isn't quite the character who I previously said would be at the top of my invite list should I be stupid enough to hold a dinner party (I'm a wonderful cook by the way, it's just that dinner parties are for people who are afraid to go to the pub. Who wouldn't prefer to be drinking beers with your pals at the local public bar instead of slaving away in the kitchen for a pack of ungrateful slobs?!).
Firstly, Flashman's previously likeable characteristic of cowardice becomes somewhat less likeable when he bawls like a little baby late in the book.
Secondly, he reveals himself as a rapist. The book casually describes Flashman's rape of an Afghani dancing girl and Flashman justifies his behaviour to the reader by saying that it was the only time in his life, and during the course of near uncountable conquests, that he resorted to rape. Flashman was previously a wife-basher of some repute, but I could deal with that because that was the style of the times, and to be fair, his wife was being tiresome. But the rape took things slightly too far.
Anyway, I'd still be happy to have Harry over for dinner and I'm sure he'd be a wonderful conversationalist. I just wouldn't trust him around any available, or even not-so-available, young (or old for that matter) females.
The plot of Flashman covers Harry's early days as a student at Rugby College, which come to an end with his expulsion for drunkeness. With his career as a schoolyard bully at an end, Flashman travels home to face his father, who is momentarily unimpressed with his son's behaviour, before getting on with his own hobby of being a drunkard. With little else going for him, Flashman enlists in the cavalry, hoping that his privileged background would allow him to look the part without any of the danger that would be faced by a poorer enlisted man. Things go well enough for young Harry, until an unfortunate series of events results in Flashman becoming a husband and packed off to fight in India in quick succession - both very unsatisfactory outcomes for Flashman but unavoidable in the circumstances.
From there, Flashman soon finds himself embroiled in the middle of the British occupation of Afghanistan as he is sent to serve in Kabul. It is here where the real action of the story takes place, and the plot follows Flashman's series of miraculous escapes and almost-escapes amongst the meticulously researched military background set out by Fraser.
In fact, the amount of historical detail and the interesting manner in which Fraser packs it into the pages of Flashman steals the show to a certain extent from the fictional going-ons of the novel. The novel is so well-researched that a number of academics with apparent knowledge of the Afghani conflict were convinced that it was a real (yet obviously exaggerated) memoir of a British soldier who served in Kabul at the time.
If you like one Flashman book, then you'll like them all. It's a very entertaining read and, as I said in my other review, the character of Flashman himself is central to that. It's a shame about the unpleasantness which takes place in the couple of passages which I refer to above, but I guess that just means that Harry Flashman is my favourite rapist.
I'm not sure if that's much of an accolade, but if you can think of a better rapist than Flashman, then I'd love to hear it in the comments section found below.
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Comment by Tyronne
Sydney Fun
Melbourne DiaryStar
I wonder if it was a conscious decision of the author to make the character less truly evil in the later books so that the readers would have a little more sympathy. From proper bad guy to lovable rogue.
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by Kim L
Diving About
Not a drippy, dressed in rags 'my nose just fell off' leper.. but a leper never the less.
I'm not going to spoil the books for anyone, by explaining all of this... just take it from me, he is a great character (even if you spend most of the series hating him) who rapes a woman in the first half of the first book.....
I love it when authors want you to hate their hero!!!
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by stu-kicks
stu kicks
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by Anonymous
however, the books are pretty good and i'm enjoying them, even with the titular character being pretty crap (imo).
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Kim L
Diving About
Good to see you took my advice and read the books!!!
You are supposed to hate TC... Any attempt on Stephen Donaldson's part to make you try to like his 'leper' main character would be ridiculous..
Of course, we could speak for hours about why TC is such a insufferable prat, but I think he fits the story completely... counterpoint him with Foamfollower's generous spirit and the Lord's self sacrifice....
I could go on... but I won't. I am not sure it's right to hijack Pat's blog like that and the fundamental flaws of TC's character are central to the plot....
Post a review on your blog once you are finished the books and i'll come and discuss the finer points there!!!
Anyway, nice to stop by again Pat (the book reading black lab).. but you might offer me a cuppa next time... what sort of book review blog is this????
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by Anonymous
pat i think you should continue down this avenue of posting to your web log on this the information super highway
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by Kim L
Diving About
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Kim L
Diving About