Flashman cover art

Flashman

The Flashman Papers, Book 1

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Flashman

By: George MacDonald Fraser
Narrated by: Colin Mace
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About this listen

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.

Flashman, soldier, duellist, lover, imposter, coward, cad and hero, triumphs in this first instalment of The Flashman Papers. His adventures as the reluctant secret agent in Afghanistan and his entry into the exclusive company of Lord Cardigan’s Hussars culminate in his foulest hour – his part in the historic disaster of the Retreat from Kabul.

This is the story of a blackguard who enjoyed villainy for its own sake. Shameless, exciting and funny, Flashman’s deplorable odyssey is observed with the cynical eye of a scoundrel who was honest only in reporting what he saw. He makes all other black sheep look respectable grey.

©2015 George MacDonald Fraser (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Espionage Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Spies & Politics Sports Thriller & Suspense War & Military Exciting
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What a joy to read of the adventures of that fictional figure Harry Flashman. Whilst undoubtedly a cad and poltroon, he brings a sense of fun to the audience whilst the master weaver, Macdonald Fraser, weaves his golden thread by combining fact with fiction and producing an absolute classic.

FLASHMAN

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Well written story, setting up for many more. Narrator is perfect for this series, absolutely draws you in to each character and captivates your imagination.

Captivating, enjoyable story

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a good story with lots of historically interesting facts. at times the character of flashman is evil

good yarn

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A swashbuckling adventure that paints a picture so vivid you feel as though you are living in colonial times!

A ripping good yarn!!

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I enjoyed listening to the story knowing that was conceived in the 1860’s with all its non PC world views.
Somehow the main character is despicable but likeable.
The only issue is that the max volume is too low with soft voices in some listening environments. Not sure why. Other titles are recorded at much higher levels.

Good yarn

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Flashman is obviously a product of a vastly different era, but this does not in itself justify that the book reads more like a shallow male power fantasy. Without access to extra-book sources, it is hard to tell if it is a serious attempt to regenerate this fantasy or just a reductio ad absurdum satire.
If it is an attempt at satire, the overwhelming narcissism, antisocial behaviour, and lack of empathy displayed by the character and the reader being held captive to his gaze rather turns the story into something of a caricature. The level of caricature embeds a predictable and banal quality to almost every line, plot, and act.
If there was some added value in the way the character deconstructs the institutions of the era and makes a mockery of the practices of the “Victorian gentlemen”, this value is lost to the reader thanks to the disinterest of the said character in anything other than himself.

Satire or male power fantasy?

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