Flashman and the Dragon

Another captivating episode. Surprisingly, well written; in fact, rivals the first Flashman volume. Flashman's narcissistic self-absorption incites laughter, as he persistently seeks to mask his cowardly slothful nature, by appearing as a macho patriotic hero. His rationale: "The principal aim, remember, is to win the greatest possible credit to yourself, which calls not only for the exclusion of anything that might damage you, but also for the judicious understatement of those things which tell in your favour, if any; brush 'em aside, never boast, let appearances speak for themselves" (p. 262). A dastardly conniving rogue.

George MacDonald Fraser was awesome. Flashman is the world's greatest literary character (can't say "hero"; he's definitely not that!) I have loved everyone of his books; the wit, satire, and lack of political correctness are a breath of fresh air, even though some of his books are over 40 years old. This book is right up there with his other works; a fabulous, fun read! And, even if you don't like history, you can't help but learn from it; full of little-known facts and scrupulously researched.

Our intrepid hero, Harry Flashman, is back for volume eight 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. The first five Flashman novels were presented in chronological order. This "packet", like its two immediate predecessors, acts to fill in a previous "gap" in the Flashman timeline. From a chronological standpoint, the adventures of this novel immediately follow those contained in Flashman and the Great Game, wherein we left Flashman in the wake of heroic deeds committed in the course of quelling the great Indian Mutiny. After a brief stint in British occupied Hong Kong, Harry believes himself to be on the verge of a return to merry old England and the bosom of his lovely wife Elspeth, only to be drafted into further military service as an intelligence officer in the service of a dangerous diplomatic adventure. 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 case, first hand experience in the Taiping Rebellion and Opium Wars of the mid-19th century, including an audience with the Chinese Emperor. Aside from uproarious fun and games, the Flashman series is set against historical events and actually serves as an educational experience. On to volume nine of the Flashman Papers.

If you know Flashy, then you don't need this, if you are a stranger, you need to read this series. Mr. Fraser knows his dialogue and keeps the action moving. Harry Flashman is the ideal vehicle for the author to tell some of histories great moments, each researched with fine detail. If you enjoy the British empire period and perhaps Patrick O'Briens Aubrey series, then this is for you. I have no idea how I lived as long as I did without discovering these books earlier, but I'm glad to have found them. An unvarnished view of history from the eyes of a coward and rogue (though I'm not so sure many of us would behave much better under similar circumstances). These books are well written and accessible, and some of the most interesting parts are the footnotes at the end. You might go to sleep after a late night read wondering it Flash harry wasn't real after all, the history certainly is.

The Flashman character has become so ubiquitous, and is so believable and the books so well researched that even professional historians have been tricked into believing that he is an historical character. This is a look at the British Empire at it's height from the viewpoint of a Victorian rogue from the class of gentleman (prior to the Rugby generation of "Manly Christians".) It's filled with racial slurs but I honestly find this preferable to books such as "Rhett's People" which turns a pirate, rogue and profiteer of the 19th century into a boring PC 21st century Huck Finn. The trick is this. If you are offended by the attitude, remember that the past isn't now minus a few years, it was a different world. As I approach 6 decades I understand that we thought, talked and even walked and stood differently from people under say 40 of today. With every gain there is a loss. I live in a more tolerant world in SOME ways, but guns have become demonized, food quality is horrible, and there are way too many people, plus, the world used to be more beautiful. Even colours were more brilliant. Different atmosphere, sorry that you weren't there to see it. Accept this book as a looking glass back through time and that is rare.

I began reading Flashman novels on the recommendation of a librarian in 1984. Flashman introduced me to history as enjoyable bedtime reading. This last month, in 2009, I began reading Flash again. I marvel at characters and incidents related so vivaciously and accurately. Making dragon ladies sexy, prime ministers klutzy, and generals comedic helps connect history to humanity. And Flash is funny, direct, and entertaining in some very dramatic settings and events of the 19th century. Rare are the opportunities to be successfully appealed to emotionally and intellectually. The sex is good, too. Long live Flashman!

Flashman once again gives a fantastic account or his unbelievable journey into a revolutionary China on the brink of pivotal change and the major figures of the time. As usual he survives countless encounters that would have vanished lesser men more serious men.

Good product

No sense in wasting any of your time: this is yet another great book in the incomparable Flashman-series. Flashman, with his new knighthood and V.C., is idling away the time in Hong Kong before sailing for home, and damned if he doesn't get caught up with a woman! Before he (or you) are fully aware he's upriver smuggling guns, being caught by pirates and Taiping rebels, commandereed by Lord Elgin to accompany him to Peking, captured by the Imperial army, and sequestered by the Imperial Concubine as private barbarian pet... All in a day's work for Flashy ;-) Having re-read the reviews I wrote on all previous Flashman-novels I should add (as I omitted perhaps in those) that, apart from the countless hilarious scenes, there are times when Flashman is dead serious (I'm thinking for instance of the final chapter where he discusses the destruction of the Summer Palace) and all in all this makes for a very entertaining read. An informative read as well, because MacDonald Fraser not only has the historical facts correct, but knows how to make you want to know more about the particular place and time of Flashman's adventures, and that in itself is surely a good thing. The only thing I regret is that there's now only one Flashman-novel left for me to read, because they must all surely rank amongst the finest historical novels one could wish for.

'Flashman and the Dragon' has a flying start where the Victorian anti-hero is smuggling opium on the Pearl River - or so he thinks. Seduced into this new adventure by an attractive preacher's wife in Hong Kong, it turns out that he is smuggling firearms to Taiping rebels. The year is 1860 - as most every Westerner has forgotten and as every Chinese remembers, the year that a British/French force marched on Peking and burned the Summer Palace. Just to make the point that the Chinese should not think of obstructing the Free Market when it comes to opium trading. Clearly a promising setting for Flashman, who by now has achieved fame and a Colonel's rank thanks to his earlier exploits - Afghanistan, the Anglo-Sikh war, the Crimea, the Sepoy Mutiny and some smaller adventures in Africa, America and Southeast Asia. In my view, this is another really interesting, entertaining addition to the series, mixing coarse humor with mightily interesting insights in 19th century history. The series, unwittingly I am sure, sheds some light on the fashionable pastime of criticizing 'The Empire'. While nobody in their right mind would think that the Opium wars, let alone the burning of the Summer palace, were justifiable, there is a subtlety. The Taiping rebellion, a purely indigenous phenomenon, cost more casualties than World War 1. Needless to say, this dwarfs all the casualties from Western transgressions. This particular rebellion was actually stopped, finally, largely thanks to Western aid (the 'Ever Victorious Army' - lead amongst others by Gordon of Khartoum fame). Two wrongs do not make one right. Still, people should consider other contemporary evils, when whining about Imperialism. Back to the book: certainly a recommendation, entertaining as well as educational.

I've been re-reading Flashman since the early '80's.

The more I read the Flashman series the more impressed I get and the more I wonder at the fact that George MacDonald Fraser didn't get a knighthood and an honorary degree for services to the understanding of English History during the Victorian Era. The man's a genius! "Flashman and the Dragon" is Flashman's China adventure covering the Taiping Rebellion (the greatest loss of life in any civil war and - I believe - second only to the Second World War) and the Second China (or Opium) War. The tale is hilarious at times but it is also quite enlightening about a moment in history I doubt many of us are aware of. The British Empire was created by men who really did have stiff upper lips and ramrod straight backs and we see their self-confidence and courage matched against a different, just as arrogant, culture. In a tale where the British and French are pulled (almost unwillingly) into a war in order to ensure Chinese adherence to existing trade agreements and where the Chinese actually do see themselves as the centre of the world where everyone (except themselves) is a barbarian only fit to be treated as a slave, casual heroism abounds. Through the maelstrom sails Flashman, bravely trying to avoid any situation in which he might put his life at risk and exploiting any misunderstanding that places him in a heroic light. We see him at his worst - and at his best... and we learn so much about this far-off time and place that still has resonance today. The whole book asks serious questions about what constitutes civilised behaviour and about the crimes committed by the powerful... and what might be a suitable means of punishment for those crimes. China still looks back at the form of punishment meted out. ... and the ending! How lovely - only Flashman!