Flashman on the March (Flashman Papers)

Ahh, jeez. The first thing. The first thing you notice and that you can't help but notice is the book cover painting. For the first time in the history of the series, the front cover painting is done by someone other than the great Arthur Barbosa, who unfortunately passed away a good ten years ago. It was truly a pleasure to study Barbosa's art work after reading a Flashman novel: to see the characters; to see their attire; to see their weapons, some of which figured prominently in the novels. And, of course, it was a delight to see Flashman, with his unholy grin and his British or native garb. But no more. Regrettably, the picture on the cover of this one is about as basic as it gets. A cursory glance is all that it merits; a foreboding omen.Flashman's adventure this time has to do with the British expedition in the late 1860s to Abyssinia--modern-day Ethiopia--in order to rescue captured English and European citizens from the mad King Theodore. As usual, the historical aspect is accurate, the landscape and surroundings are marvelously detailed, and the personalities involved imaginatively rendered. In other words, in these respects, it is a classic Flashman novel.What is missing, though, and perhaps only to a slight degree, is the overabundant sense of fun the earlier novels have. As everybody knows, Flashman winds up in the middle of the historical events at which he is famous for being unwillingly, through his own folly and usually brought on by lasciviousness or spite. How these escapades are traditionally contrived are hilarious, with Flashman squawking indignantly, then cursing his malefactors, then cowering fearfully before accepting his fate. In this one the formula starts to wear a little thin, and the events leading to his involvement in Abyssinia are almost predictable. Sure enough, he has an unscrupulous sexual affair, sure enough he has to flee the girl's protectors, and sure enouth he has to reluctantly agree to participate in the campaign with an English general he dare not refuse. It's been this way in the last few novels and it almost seems in this one as if Fraser is rushing through it simply to get to the good stuff.But the "good stuff"--the historical angle--was never the meat of the Flashman novels to begin with. It is not the grand historical events that make these novels wonderful--great as they are anyway--it has always been Flashman himself: gambling with Speedicut, whoring in the Haymarket, goading Bismarck, insulting Morrison, skulking through Lahore, buying slaves in Mississippi, freeing them in Ohio, and on and on. These are the best parts of the Flashman novels; historical to be sure, but not necessarily Great Historical Moments. We don't read Flashman because we want to learn about history; we learn history because we want to read about Flashman. In this one, the Great Historical Moment, as it were, is too much front and center, and in many long stretches the novel reads more like a history than it does an adventure.This perception is exacerbated by Fraser's explanatory note in the beginning, and by Flashman's ruminations on his looming demise later in the novel. The feeling one gets is that it is no longer Flashman speaking, it is Fraser himself. Which doesn't ruin it by any means. It is still a wonderful, enjoyable read, and far better than most of the dreck out there. It's just that it's not the same, and the enterprise as a whole has lost some steam.Nevertheless, it is with some consolation that one reads these somewhat caustic comments. For Flashman, of course, the gloating is because he has outlived his enemies: Starnberg, Ignatieff, John Charity Spring and the like. But as to Fraser, one must wonder.Hopefully, the conclusion is that he has already penned other Flashman novels, especially the hugely anticipated American Civil War thing. The guess here would be that he's got at least that, and perhaps a half-dozen more floating around out there, which would explain his saucy chuckle on the way to the sunset.One can only hope. Fraser, even at his weakest--if that is the right word--is far superior to anything in his field.

Flashman On The March is by no means the best book of the series, but Fraser is in his 80s, doesn't need the money, and we must be grateful for any new Flashman material at all. It is better than his previous, Flashman & The Tiger, a collection of three shorter stories, was.In this case, Flashman finds himself once again in trouble over a woman, and consequently exposed to what appear to be convenient plans to get him out of town when offered by his friend Speedicut; and of course thus unwittingly puts his head into yet another noose, this time finding himself on the expedition to Magdala in what became the Abyssinian War.Fraser's absolutely meticulous research, as usual, brings what is to us a very remote and little known campaign to technicolor life. Fraser's notes and commentary refer to all the primary sources then extant, newspapers and magazines of the time, official publications, memoirs, and the like, transforming his work from standard historical fiction into something a good deal better, more reliable, and instructive. Combine this with Fraser's excellent characterizations, his pitch-perfect dialogue, his ironic, sarcastic, and often bawdy humor, and you have what is simply the best such series in print. Every novel has been an absolute joy to read and reread over the years.The story and the events make for great reading and do not need to be reviewed here; every Flashman reader knows what he will get, and that he will love it. (In that sense, Fraser is every bit as dependable as Ian Fleming was; give the public what it wants.) More interesting to me is Fraser's long-standing political incorrectness, and I am not talking about his use of 'the n-word' (which can be rationalized on grounds of historical accuracy in speech) or the jumping of every woman in the book (which is fact is completely PC), which is what the NY Times seems to think makes this stuff racy, but rather of his observations of actual conditions and actual events around the world. Fraser pulls no punches, and never has, in describing in cold hard brutal documented facts the almost unbelievable cruelty, the shocking crimes, and bestial behavior, of homicidal maniacs masquerading as kings, chieftains, advisors to the great, and so on, throughout the Victorian world, and while the British are far from faultless (see destruction of the Summer Palace after the Chinese expedition) there is a clear contrast between the civilized and the uncivilized, and both Flashman and Fraser (in his notes) leave us with no doubt as to which they prefer. The concept of the 'noble savage' is one with which Fraser deals again and again - perhaps best at the beginning of Flashman & The Redskins, which finds Flashy dealing with Political Correctness of the time at a London Club, but throughout most of the other books as well - and which he demolishes simply through accumulation of documented evidence. In 2006, however, as it was in 1969 when Fraser first began this epic romp through history, this remains an uphill fight. Even the last page of this book, where Flashman, Napier and Speed discuss the benefits of leaving Abyssinia now that the mission is done, or staying and colonizing the place, makes clear the dilemma is a no-win situation: if they leave they will be characterized as irresponsible, and if they stay as imperialistic. The New York Times won't touch that in their review; they seem to think the whole series is just about fornicating Flashy on a tour through the brothels of the world. It is, in part - but if there weren't quite a bit more to it than that, Fraser would not still be providing his readers with the best and most enjoyable historical fiction in print.The brilliant covers by Arthur Barbosa are a thing of the past, and time moves on for Fraser as for the rest of us. For my part, I selfishly hope Mr Fraser lives to be 150 year old and cranks out many, many more Flashman novels.

Starting with Flashman accompanying the corpse of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico on his final voyage 'home' and ending with him witnessing the suicide of another Emperor, Theodore of Abyssinia, this is yet another epic adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed.Apparently Flashman has spent much of the 1860s in America (fighting for both sides in the civil war) and in Mexico, where he ended up as an aide to Emperor Maximilian, the ill-fated Habsburg who was going to straighten out that poor country. This installment starts with Flashman having to run from Trieste, to escape the wrath of Admiral Tegethoff (Victor of the Battle of Lissa and commanding the ships that brought Maximilian back from Mexico) who is not amused by Flashman's romantic exploits on board with a relative of his. The proposal by an old friend he meets, now working in the diplomatic service, that Flashman escort a shipment of gold coin to the expeditionary force into Abyssinia, suddenly seems an excellent idea.And so Flashman ends up in the Abyssinian campaign, a British rescue mission for a handful of hostages taken by the demented Emperor Theodore of Abyssinia. Unable to get away with just delivering the gold, the expedition's commander Napier and some 'politicals' press him into an extremely dangerous mission into the Ethiopian hinterland. I won't give away much, but I can say it is a breathtaking series of adventures, ending with the storming of Magdala, Theodore's mountain stronghold.As always, this episode is again steeped in amazing research by MacDonald Fraser, and the reader learns all he (or she) ever wanted to know about Abyssinia, its spectacular nature (Flashman actually falls off a waterfall in the Blue Nile) and dangerous, violent inhabitants. The only sad note really, is that the 'Mexican Papers' to which reference is made in the beginning, and which would describe Flashman's exploits in Mexico and America up to 1866, are never going to be written. Such a pity. Does not take away anything from this episode though, which is highly recommended.

Flashman's contribution to Napier's Abyssinia campaign is detailed in this story. It starts with Flashy's escape from Mexico, and the usual reasons for his need for a sharp exit on landfall (a woman). Again, as usual, he ends up with a less than direct route back to Elspeth.Which, while it sounds formulaic, is fine.The trouble for me with this novel, is that the formula isn't stuck to all the way through. The first half of the novel is great, the usual Flashy hijinks, the usual scrapes with exotic women, the usual fights, flights and economies with he truth, and all very entertaining. Once Harry is captured by Theodore, it all becomes, well, boring.Sadly at that point it becomes little more than a historical report, which is fine, but far drier than earlier novels, which for me, reflects the star rating. First half of the book, great, the second half, not so.

The Flashman books are a strange mixture of adventure, history, and social commentary. The author has found a "voice" that allows him to comment on the ferment of the 19th century from a very different angle. Their true strength is that you can select some or all of the above as you read the novel. In this package of the Flashman Papers our anti-hero is involved in an exfiltration mission into Abyssinia to rescue prisoners held by the remarkable Emperor Theodore. The exotic nature of the land and its peoples is well exploited by Fraser; Churchill did much the same in his The River War.Ex Africa semper aliquid novi

The story, history & style are all interesting & very well done - as one would expect from George Macdonald Fraser. But... this Audiobook was NOT read by Rupert Penry-Jones (previous Audiobooks in this series were), it has been read by a chap called Toby Stephens & therein lies the problem. Mr Stephens assumes a very dry, croaky voice for his reading; not just for the central character of Harry Flashman, but for others too. This may lead to confusion between characters & irritation at the continual rasping sound. Other than that, its worth having; lets hope decent sales will allow the producers to supply Mr Stephens with a glass of water at his next reading.

Is this the best Flashman novel? No.Is it the least good?* No.Does GMD intrude some of his own opinions? Of course, but he's always done that, (as does every author), it's just that his opinions are more obviously on show here than they are in the early volumes.Is it the same old plot? Yes.Do I care? No. It's an enjoyable romp through both Abyssinia and the Victorian mind and it gets a (tainted) hero's welcome from me!*(Hey - this is George MacDonald Fraser so there is no 'worst' Falshy novel}.