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You just knew where you stood. If you queried the spelling of a word he would say: All he said was: Send back my contract. As features editor on the Glasgow Herald he did not hesitate to slash your copy to ribbons; as an author he turned in flawless prose, wrote the blurbs and never made a mistake, save possibly one. He misspelled an ancient aunt of his paperback publisher, Clarence Paget, who was involved somehow in the retreat from Kabul. I think the only thing I did for him that he could not have done for himself was to have persuaded P.
Wodehouse to read his work. And the latter wrote: Finally, perhaps not well enough known, a snippet of autobiography, from his introduction to a new edition, 20 years ago now, of Treasure Island:.
Sixty years ago the superintendent of Carlisle swimming baths decreed that no boy of 12 years or under should use the high diving board. Stevenson was to blame for this, and would no doubt have been gratified, if not at the prohibition, at least at the reason for it. The film version of Treasure Island , with the immortal Wallace Beery as Long John Silver, was showing at a local cinema, and no incident in that splendid production had so excited our juvenile admiration as the moment when Israel Hands, played by that matchless villain, Douglas Dumbrille, dragged his way up the shrouds of the good ship Hispaniola , dirk in teeth, in pursuit of Jim Hawkins, only to be properly shot and make his fatal, twisting plunge into the watery depths.
It cried out for emulation, and the deep end of the baths was rendered perilous by a constant swarm of urchins struggling to the high board and toppling backwards with realistic death-screams, regardless of the orthodox bathers below. But that is Fame, and Stevenson would have been the first to recognise it. The preview is open. Catalogue available at www. Christopher Maclehose is the founder of the Maclehose Press, devoted to the translation of literature and crime fiction into English.
The success of the Flashman series owed something to the inspired choice of Arthur Barbosa as designer of the covers. Christopher Maclehose 24 May 9: Most Popular Read Recent Read. The nine lessons of Brexit Ivan Rogers. The myth of the Brexit cliff edge Matthew Lynn. Where does May go from here? My 14 requests for the new year Rod Liddle. Who does Leo Varadkar think he is?
He is seduced by Ko Dali's beautiful and tactically brilliant daughter, and rendered fearless and bloodthirsty by hashish given him secretly, commands the firing of rockets at the Russian supply ships holding all the powder and shells needed for the Indian expedition. Flashy hurries to India to report his adventures, hoping to return home to safety in England and a possible knighthood.
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Showing of 79 reviews. Top Reviews Most recent Top Reviews. There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. Flashy saves the day yet again!
Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. These books are dated. Fraser has been dead many years and Flashman, the first book, dates from They contain non-PC vocabulary throughout.
But it matters not. If you are looking for a literary giant of a book, these Flashman books are not for you but they have some wonderful qualities. Firstly, they are meticulously researched and footnoted. This title is no exception. I have learned more from Fraser about military history than I ever did from my military history texts.
Secondly, you know what you are getting before you open the cover and you are never disappointed. Fraser has worked his Flashman formula well and we all know that Flashy will get himself in and out of trouble with historically factual villains in factual circumstances, in and out of bed with damsels historical and fictitious, using both cowardice and involuntary acts of courage when the time comes. Mix these up with a sprinkling of yearning for Elspeth and suspicions about her fidelity, and you have every Flashman book ever written by GMF.
Do yourself a favour and start with 'Flashman'. You have the advantage of not having to wait for them to be published as I did all those years ago. He is not a brave man and tends towards constant self-disparagement, but the circumstances he finds himself in seem to always turn in his favor. But, I have always enjoyed the irreverent series, as apparently do many others, and enjoy reading about an anti-hero who prevails in spite of himself. The dialogue is authentic, uproarious, and filled with dry wit.
The battle scenes are intricate and well presented, with heroic antics that are not intended to be noble. Fraser keeps a close hand on the intended character of Flashman, making his deeds notable, if not fearless. His boudoir escapades are more amusing than licentious. Yes, I enjoy Harry Flashman.
I think many people associate his tentative approach to life with their own, hoping to achieve much honor without a lot of heroic effort.