Posted by John Lambert on January 19, 2008 at 08:18:58 from 64.59.144.85 user Benedict.
In Reply to: Re: FLASHMAN posted by Ed Kiser on January 18, 2008 at 22:43:42:
Thomas Hughes was the author of Tom Brown's Schooldays. The book documents the trials of one Tom Brown at Rugby, a famous English public school. There was a very unpleasant bully, Harry Flashman, at school with Tom, who delighted in torturing smaller boys, including Tom, during his early years at Rugby. He got his cumuppance though in the end. Now, another author, George MacDonald Fraser, wrote a series of novels about Flashman after he left school and joined the British Army. Flashman rose through the ranks, managing to be present at many of the decisive military campaigns of the 19th century, serving in India, in the Crimiea and even the United States. He manages to escape unscathed by running away or other acts of cowardice. When he wasn't ducking bullets, he was busy in some lady's bedroom. In my view, he was a thoroughly unpleasant iar, cheat, coward and womanizer. However, sometimes you can't help admiring his incredible gall and luck. There are several books abour this hero/villain in print, and you should be able to pick some of them up, even on this side of the pond. Look for Flashman at the Charge, Flashman and the Great Game, Flashman and the Redskins, etc.