Flashman at the Charge by George MacDonald Fraser
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Book Reviews of Flashman at the Charge
Book Review: A fantasic ride
Summary: 5 Stars
Given that my introduction to the Flashmen series almost coincided with the tragic (although not unexpected) death of George Macdonald Frasier I have made it my news years resolution to let people know about his wonderful books.
They wouldn't be good without the main character Sir Harry Flashman VC; who without ever really meaning to became the most highly decorated solider of the Victorian Era. This is all of course just a byproduct of his attempts to save his own worthless hide, with the reader cheering him all the while. They are also outstanding in their great attention to historical accuracy backed up with a large amount of footnotes.
This particular installment "Flashman at the Charge" is the first purely military Flashman adventure since the first book in the series and it is wonderful. Flashman (and the author) are back to true form here. Flashman of course has no intention of going to fight "The Great Russian Bear" but his idiotic lovable wife gets him appointed as a kind of Master at Arms for one of Prince Albert's German nephews. It is then decided that the boy needs battlefield seasoning for eventual command one day. So it is for to the Crimea Flashy goes for a date with the light brigade. This is only half of the story.
Overall-I think it is the best of the series everything clicks without force or effort.
Book Review: Another great story from Flashy's files
Summary: 5 Stars
I find it amazing that Fraser can constantly deliver such a perfectly balanced combination of historical and romantic fiction. This is the fourth installment of the Flashman's adventures, but I found it to be the most intriguing, especially since it meticulously describes the start of the Crimean war and the battles of Alma and Balaclava with such cynicism. Consider the possibility that a pointless mistake in the communication of an order down the chain of command, combined with overzealous hand-waving by a messenger lead to the disastrous charge of the Light Brigade. Throw in with this some description of Russian countryside and daily life during the latter half 19th century: the horrid plight of the serf in stark comparison to the lavish existence of the noble caste. Mix it all up with the imperialist expansion of the Russian empire into Central Asia and you end up with a perfect recipe for epic historical fiction. However this would not be one of the famous Flashy files if it did not have equally interesting romantic encounters, troika chases through the snowy countryside, and suicidal missions to raid a Russian fort with Kirgiz rebels. To think that all this history, action and adventure occurs in a mere 300 pages is simply to good to be true. A truly great story-teller, Fraser has won me over and I can't wait to pick up the next chapter in his ruffian's adventures.Book Review: More of the best
Summary: 5 Stars
To those who have never heard of Flashman, please go look up the book "Flashman" and buy it. If historical fiction is your cup of tea, you'll be hooked. In this entry: Flash signs on to munitions duty as the Crimean War begins to heat up, never suspecting that one day he will unwillingly take part in Colin Campbell's stand (The Thin Red Line) and Scarlett's charge uphill of the Heavy Brigade, not to mention the infamous charge of the Light Brigade... And then be captured, become an unwilling spy and resistance fighter, and of course bed a Russian noble's beautiful daughter... All in a day's work for old Flashy, of course, who would rather be at home. I have little to say about this entry into the Flashman series other than it offers up more of the same, and three cheers for it, and too bad there's not even more of it. Flashy's still a rogue, bluffing his way through horrors, rogering his way into the confidences of the enemy, and sniveling his way out of danger. The facts that Fraser re-creates historical characters and events with a scholar's eye for detail and a great novelist's flair for the story, that Flashman is neatly and unerringly made to be the impetus behind historical events, and the whole exciting yarn is awash in a heady dose of sly wit and knowing parody, all go without saying: this is Fraser, after all, the best historical novelist of all.Book Review: Flash is Getting Soft!
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading "Flash for Freedom," with its nauseous blatant racism expressed through Flashman's perspective, I began to wonder why I was drawn to the series. Even in the Spanish picaresque novels, rogues tend to mature in their skullduggery. But I already had "Flashman at the Charge" in the exercycle pile, so I plunged in. I'm glad I did. This is the most successful episode yet, in terms of skillful plotting and literary devlopment. Why, it's so well written that I'm sure some Flash fanciers will be disappointed. It also spews most of Flashman's bile on Russians and British army officers, two subspecies of Homo sapiens that I have no investment in. The big surprise, however, is that our Harry at last seems to be affected by experience. Several times in the book, he reveals admiration for the noble and contempt for the ignoble. He actually admits to feeling an emotion close to friendship for two other men and honest intimidation in the face of a powerful woman. And he acknowledges sympathy, sneeringly of course, for the suffering of others! What's all this coming to? Is Flashman gonna yield to the temptation to do something honorable!?! I guess I'll have to read the next book to find out.Book Review: Simply Brilliant
Summary: 5 Stars
George MacDonald Fraser is simply brilliant - the Flashman Papers are part historical fiction, part bodice ripper, part humour. The intrepid Harry Flashman, a "hero" by all accounts is in his own words, a coward, a cheat, a liar and a womanizer. In spite of this, he continues to receive accolades, praise and a chest full of military decorations and titles.
In _Flashman at the Charge_, Flashman (in an attempt to avoid active service), ends up in the Crimea where first he joins "the thin, red line" in preventing the advance of the Russians, before rushing over to lead (farting all the way, incidentally), the charge of the light brigade.
Captured by the Russians, Flashman learns much about serfdom, Cossacks, "the Russian soul" - and of course, their attempts to invade India.
For all the show of cowardice, however, Fraser may be having a joke on us - that is to say, perhaps Flashy isn't the yellow-belly he would have us believe ... after all, the only difference between a "hero" and a "coward" is timing... and no one can doubt that Flashman has had an excellent sense of that.