Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Lademann, 1974.
Description
Harry Flashman: the unrepentant bully of Tom Brown's schooldays, now with a Victoria Cross, has three main talents - horsemanship, facility with foreign languages and fornication. A reluctant military hero, Flashman plays a key part in most of the defining military campaigns of the 19th century, despite trying his utmost to escape them all.
User reviews
LibraryThing member dougwood57
In this fourth packet of the Flashman Papers, our man Flash finds himself in the thick of the Crimean War, including the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. Flash endures the regettable Lord Haw-Haw, the Earl of Cardigan, who led the Charge (although Lord Raglan deserves at least some of the
Harry also spends some not altogether unpleasant time in captivity in Russia - although a near encounter with the Russian knout leaves him with severe dyspepsia. Later Flash escapes, but ends up in in a Russian dungeon with Central Asian chieftain Yakub Beg and the warrior Izzat Kutebar. Rescued by Beg's people, Flashy shows some shocking signs of acting entirely honorably and contrary to his self-interest, but his odd behavior is soon explained.
If you are unfamiliar with the Flashman series, each book is a packet from the supposedly historical Flashman Papers. Flashman is a character of fictional history twice over, first in 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' published in 1857 and now in the George MacDonald Fraser's rediscovery. Fraser makes Flashman not only a cad, but also a reluctant and serial war hero. If you ever start to think Flashman has turned over a new leaf, just keep reading. If this kind of thing interests you I do suggest that you start with the first book in the series, 'Flashman', although each book stands on its own.
The Flashman series weave historical detail together with spell-binding stories told with frequent hilarity. Highly recommended for fans of British historical fiction or a good ribald tale of any kind.
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blame for that fiasco). The reader is introduced to William Howard Russell, the famous Times of London who invented modern war reporting (the generals didn't like having a reporter around then either). Harry also spends some not altogether unpleasant time in captivity in Russia - although a near encounter with the Russian knout leaves him with severe dyspepsia. Later Flash escapes, but ends up in in a Russian dungeon with Central Asian chieftain Yakub Beg and the warrior Izzat Kutebar. Rescued by Beg's people, Flashy shows some shocking signs of acting entirely honorably and contrary to his self-interest, but his odd behavior is soon explained.
If you are unfamiliar with the Flashman series, each book is a packet from the supposedly historical Flashman Papers. Flashman is a character of fictional history twice over, first in 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' published in 1857 and now in the George MacDonald Fraser's rediscovery. Fraser makes Flashman not only a cad, but also a reluctant and serial war hero. If you ever start to think Flashman has turned over a new leaf, just keep reading. If this kind of thing interests you I do suggest that you start with the first book in the series, 'Flashman', although each book stands on its own.
The Flashman series weave historical detail together with spell-binding stories told with frequent hilarity. Highly recommended for fans of British historical fiction or a good ribald tale of any kind.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jztemple
The recent death of George McDonald Fraser has brought a close (maybe permanent, maybe not?) to this delightful series of books. I have had the pleasure of following this series every since the release of the first book back in the sixties. The Flashman novels combine history (including substantial
The Flashman novels could be dismissed as sensationalized light reading , but Fraser cleverly tied his character into most of the major events of the last sixty years of the nineteenth century, a Victorian Zelig or Forrest Gump. Flashman casually mentions this minor detail or that simple observation, then Fraser in his assumed role as editor of the Flashman papers meticulously explains in the endnotes how these mentions by Flashman confirm the truth of his narrative, since only if Flashman was there could he have known about this fact or that. Fraser's endnotes also round out the historic details of the narrative, giving background and elaboration to the history-as-I-lived-it tales told by Flashman. It all works wonderfully, even if you somewhat suspect that some details are being outrageously fabricated.
I very strongly recommend these books to anyone who has an interest in history and is willing to keep an open mind towards the womanizing and the language (the n-word appears quite a bit, but completely in character for Flashman). I would suggest the best way to read them is in order of publication. This doesn't follow Flashman's own life chronology, but the books published later often make reference to previous editions of the "Flashman Papers" and so is more fun for the reader to follow.
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endnotes) with sex, action, adventure and the secret pleasure of enjoying the exploits of one of the most notoriously popular non-politically correct characters of 20th Century literature. Flashman is a womanizer, a coward, a scoundrel and a cheat, but in the novels, which are all narrated by Flashman himself, he is utterly honest with his readers. He is a man not proud of his faults, but certainly unabashed about them.The Flashman novels could be dismissed as sensationalized light reading , but Fraser cleverly tied his character into most of the major events of the last sixty years of the nineteenth century, a Victorian Zelig or Forrest Gump. Flashman casually mentions this minor detail or that simple observation, then Fraser in his assumed role as editor of the Flashman papers meticulously explains in the endnotes how these mentions by Flashman confirm the truth of his narrative, since only if Flashman was there could he have known about this fact or that. Fraser's endnotes also round out the historic details of the narrative, giving background and elaboration to the history-as-I-lived-it tales told by Flashman. It all works wonderfully, even if you somewhat suspect that some details are being outrageously fabricated.
I very strongly recommend these books to anyone who has an interest in history and is willing to keep an open mind towards the womanizing and the language (the n-word appears quite a bit, but completely in character for Flashman). I would suggest the best way to read them is in order of publication. This doesn't follow Flashman's own life chronology, but the books published later often make reference to previous editions of the "Flashman Papers" and so is more fun for the reader to follow.
Show Less
LibraryThing member santhony
Our intrepid hero, Harry Flashman, is back for volume four of the Flashman Papers, a narrative of the life and times of one of the most ne’er-do-well wastrels to ever grace the pages of a published autobiography.
This installment picks up where the third volume left off; Flashman is comfortably
Unfortunately, our intrepid hero has come to the attention of his superiors and largely on the strength of his Kabul fame (see the original Flashman) been assigned as military tutor to one of the Queen’s own nephews, an assignment that requires his attendance in the Crimean theater, with predictably disastrous consequences.
As in the previous Flashman novels, our Harry is revealed as the premier coward and opportunist of his era; faults which he quite willingly admits and even boasts of. Much as a prior day Forrest Gump, he has a way of finding himself among the most powerful and famous personages of his era, as he takes part in the great events of the period, in this instance, the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade. From Flash:
“You know, the advantage to being a wicked bastard is that everyone pesters the Lord on your behalf; if volume of prayers from my saintly enemies means anything, I’ll be saved when the Archbishop of Canterbury is damned. It’s a comforting thought.”
From the disaster at Balaclava, Flashy is propelled through seemingly nonstop adventure, first as a Russian prisoner of war, and then, upon escape, as a brother in arms among the barbarian hordes of the Russian steppes. Uproariously funny and entertaining, this installment is every bit the equal of its predecessors.
This installment picks up where the third volume left off; Flashman is comfortably
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ensconced in London society with his beautiful vacuous (and wealthy) wife Elspeth. He has structured a plan to avoid the increasing threat of hostilities between England and Russia by arranging for assignment in the Ordnance department, a largely administrative staffing.Unfortunately, our intrepid hero has come to the attention of his superiors and largely on the strength of his Kabul fame (see the original Flashman) been assigned as military tutor to one of the Queen’s own nephews, an assignment that requires his attendance in the Crimean theater, with predictably disastrous consequences.
As in the previous Flashman novels, our Harry is revealed as the premier coward and opportunist of his era; faults which he quite willingly admits and even boasts of. Much as a prior day Forrest Gump, he has a way of finding himself among the most powerful and famous personages of his era, as he takes part in the great events of the period, in this instance, the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade. From Flash:
“You know, the advantage to being a wicked bastard is that everyone pesters the Lord on your behalf; if volume of prayers from my saintly enemies means anything, I’ll be saved when the Archbishop of Canterbury is damned. It’s a comforting thought.”
From the disaster at Balaclava, Flashy is propelled through seemingly nonstop adventure, first as a Russian prisoner of war, and then, upon escape, as a brother in arms among the barbarian hordes of the Russian steppes. Uproariously funny and entertaining, this installment is every bit the equal of its predecessors.
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LibraryThing member simon_carr
Along with the Great Game, this is my favourite of all the Flashman novels. Historically accurate (ish) and highly entertaining, this is Fraser at the top of his game.
LibraryThing member John5918
Another adventure of coward and cad Flashman, now a colonel. He takes part (by mistake) in one of the most famous military incidents of all time, the Charge of the Light Brigade. Subsequently captured, he accidentally saves the Empire from the Russians.
LibraryThing member nicholas
The fourth volume in the memoirs of General Sir Harry Flashman VC, celebrated military officer (and outrageous cad, philanderer, cheat and coward). Shipped off to the Crimean War, Flashman finds himself caught up in the Charge of the Light Brigade, taken prisoner by the Russians, and inadvertently
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involved in numerous acts of what look like supreme heroism (but are actually unintended side-effects of his own cowardice). Hugely entertaining. Show Less
LibraryThing member MrsPlum
Discovering Flashman has been my highlight for 2010.
Fraser’s skills as a novelist and historian is such that he created a character who remains ultimately likeable, despite his treatment of women. There have been many such men in life – why not in art?
Flashman’s account of the charge of the
Fraser’s skills as a novelist and historian is such that he created a character who remains ultimately likeable, despite his treatment of women. There have been many such men in life – why not in art?
Flashman’s account of the charge of the
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Light Brigade, and the bungling of the Crimean episode is entirely plausible. His portrait of Russia and her people is entirely grim and cruel, but perhaps understandably coloured by his long imprisonment and experiences in that country. On his return to more familiar territory in Afghanistan, we see Flashy take on the hero’s role with uncharacteristic willingness. Show Less
LibraryThing member ehines
What I'd call early-middle period Flashman. Fraser was still courting mass popularity with this series of novels (this one was serialized in Playboy) and hadn't quite found the right balance of history and bawdy adventure. The story doesn't have the strength of the Flashman or Royal Flash as an
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adventure story, and it doesn't have the strength of Flash for Freedom as a historical novel. It was by emphasizing the history and telling it from Flashman's skewed but honest perspective that Fraser made this series last over a dozen volumes. Here, I suspect Playboy was pulling him in the other (bawdy adventure) direction. Still solid, but not the best of the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member twolper
My favorite of the Flashman series.
LibraryThing member jason.goodwin
MacDonald Fraser set the bar to historical adventure fiction very high when he came up with the Flashman papers, purporting to be the real-life memoirs of the sneak, bully and coward who first appeared in a pious Victorian novel, Tom Brown's School days. Brilliantly researched and full of roguish
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hilarity, the books chronicle Flashman's inexorable rise to fame and fortune in Victoria's empire by a combination of good looks, good luck and a cynical devotion to self-preservation. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lordofthebooks
Brilliant, funny, entertaining this one has got the works
LibraryThing member antiquary
One of the best of the Flashman books. Flashman at the charge of te LIght Brigade and as a prisoner in Russia, undertaking to beget an heir for a tough old Russian lord on the latter's married but childless daughter.
LibraryThing member varielle
Our favorite coward Harry Flashman manages to survive the Charge of the Light Brigade, imprisonment, escape and several more battles to save the British Empire, all the while coming across as a hero despite his best efforts to be otherwise. Confirming at last that he is a cuckold, he doesn't
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neglect the ladies from England to Russia to Afghanistan. Don't ever go for a sleigh ride with him. Show Less
LibraryThing member SeriousGrace
In the fourth installment the year is now 1854 and this time Flashy has been appointed as special guardian to Prince William of Celle during the Crimean War. His son, Harry Albert Victor (aka "Havvy") is five years old. I don't think I am giving anything away when I say Flashman is taken prisoner
George MacDonald Fraser calls himself the "editor" of this packet of papers and admits he only corrected spelling and added necessary footnotes (and there are a lot of them, as always). I have to admit, I'm still not used to the downright silliness of Fraser's writing. Case in point - in the heat of battle Flashman has gas, "I remember, my stomach was asserting itself again, and I rode yelling with panic and farting furiously at the same time" (p 105). What I liked the best about this set of papers is that there is someone who sees through Flashman's cowardice (finally!).
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and makes an interesting deal with his captor. The outcome of that deal is not revealed in Flashman at the Charge. Maybe in the next installment?George MacDonald Fraser calls himself the "editor" of this packet of papers and admits he only corrected spelling and added necessary footnotes (and there are a lot of them, as always). I have to admit, I'm still not used to the downright silliness of Fraser's writing. Case in point - in the heat of battle Flashman has gas, "I remember, my stomach was asserting itself again, and I rode yelling with panic and farting furiously at the same time" (p 105). What I liked the best about this set of papers is that there is someone who sees through Flashman's cowardice (finally!).
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LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
The continuation of the Flashman cycle, with its meticulous research, and rollicking humour is welcome. Flashy in the bowels of the Black Sea, not having learned how to avoid actually appearing at the front, is in a paroxysm of terror. But Fraser has brought off a good picture of the whole
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disorganized disaster. Good fun, and the factual bits are solid. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1973
Physical description
254 p.; 20.7 cm
ISBN
8715004074 / 9788715004070
Local notes
Omslag: Hasse Erikson
Omslaget viser en engelsk officer til hest i spidsen for et rytterkompagni
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Flashmanpapirerne
Oversat fra engelsk "Flashman at the charge" af Mogens Boisen
Omslaget viser en engelsk officer til hest i spidsen for et rytterkompagni
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Flashmanpapirerne
Oversat fra engelsk "Flashman at the charge" af Mogens Boisen
Similar in this library
Series
Pages
254
DDC/MDS
| 823.914 |