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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

History (British Imperial) done up by a master story teller

This is one of Flashy's best adventures, though if you're put off by graphic violence and explicit sexual content, better not crack the cover. It takes place during a particularly sensitive political moment in China, and George Macdonald Fraser's satiric pen is never better when it comes to skewering colonial presumptuousness and buffoonery. But he isn't gentle with the colonized, or the would-be colonized, either. Sexism, racism, and nearly any other -ism you can think of are sent up with even-handed glee.But the Flashman connoisseur knows not to read too many of these adventures too close together, any more than you'd eat a box of chocolate truffles all at once. Savor them, one by one, with much in between to clear the palate.

'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.

This chapter in Flashy's life revolves around the second opium war, and as usual he finds himself in hot water because he can't keep away from women. But that's OK, it's why we love the rascal!This follows GMF's very entertaining formula of a supposed coward who's actually no more so than any of us, who seems to be on hand at history's momentous occasions, and gives a very funny, very un-PC opinion on things, as well as historical figures.A very good story, this one, but only three stars this time as it was perhaps a little too descriptive at times, especially of the wonders of the summer palace, and the riches taken away there. Sorry if I'm being picky, but GMF himself has set the bar very high with these stories, and I will still read this one again.Other books you might like to read Cold Steel on the Rocks We Are Cold Steel Kalter Stahl auf den Felsen Wir Sind Kalter StahlCold Steel on the RocksWe Are Cold SteelKalter Stahl auf den FelsenWir Sind Kalter Stahl

The Flashman series are an alternate view on the 'ripping yarn' type of stories (though not always with the humour given the context of some of the events). The author is a wonderful story teller who manages to weave fiction into fact in a believable manner. There is considerable historical accuracy. I won't repeat what many other said with regard story lines etc but will say that I have the series and have read them twice. They are fun and an easy read but are not politically correct, which as someone who has lived in a country that had segregation in living memory, I do find sits uncomfortably on occasion especially given the author's reported views. If you take the perspective that they are pastiche of early writers and their views, you can laugh at the backwardness of the individuals and most certainly not find them something to emulate. Flashman is a total cad after all.

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!

Probably the best of the Flashman's, after Flashman in the Great Game. Wonderfully entertaining and has a bit of everything. My only cavill is that near the end of the book, which was concentrating on the treachery and bad faith of the Chinese, I suddenly asked myself why the bloody British were in China at all, and why they had the right to force the Chinese into accepting a trade treaty they didn't want? Call me picky, but how could the British have the high moral ground when they sent an army to make the Chinese government allow them to sell DRUGS in China? I mean, really? Good read but My God the British Empire has a lot of crimes to answer for.