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barts_books's review against another edition
4.0
A Flashman adventure in two distinct parts. The first covers events immediatedly after [b:Flash for Freedom!|142465|Flash for Freedom! (The Flashman Papers, #3)|George MacDonald Fraser|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1303914458s/142465.jpg|2702899] and coincides with the Californian gold rush of 1849. The second sees him return a much older man in 1875 as the Wild west has embarked on huge change but the wars with the American indians are still ongoing. IFlash even lands himself right in the middle of the battle of Little Bighorn.
Personally I preferred the second half to the first. The first part I found to be slightly formulaic in the context of the series. The second was outstanding though and contained the right mix of historical fact and adventure. Fraser was a brilliant historical author and this book is brimming with intriguing facts from the wild west.
Personally I preferred the second half to the first. The first part I found to be slightly formulaic in the context of the series. The second was outstanding though and contained the right mix of historical fact and adventure. Fraser was a brilliant historical author and this book is brimming with intriguing facts from the wild west.
ben_miller's review against another edition
3.0
The Flashman books are full of racial slurs of every kind, but I believe this is the only entry to have one on the cover. Even in a series whose deliberate project is to be offensive, and to satirize the white supremacist Victorian adventure genre, it seems in poor taste.
Needless to say, I didn't read this one outside the house or leave it lying around when company came by. And it was probably my least favorite of the series so far, despite a few classic Flashy moments. It was a little too disjointed, with too many characters, settings, and time periods, and just isn't as cleverly and tightly plotted as some of the other books.
As always, it's a first-rate history lesson, provided you can think critically about what you're reading, but it becomes overwhelmed at times by the "historical" part of historical novel, to the detriment of the "novel." Fraser is usually a master at balancing the two, but here he slips a bit.
Needless to say, I didn't read this one outside the house or leave it lying around when company came by. And it was probably my least favorite of the series so far, despite a few classic Flashy moments. It was a little too disjointed, with too many characters, settings, and time periods, and just isn't as cleverly and tightly plotted as some of the other books.
As always, it's a first-rate history lesson, provided you can think critically about what you're reading, but it becomes overwhelmed at times by the "historical" part of historical novel, to the detriment of the "novel." Fraser is usually a master at balancing the two, but here he slips a bit.
usbsticky's review against another edition
5.0
In this book Flashman first experiences the early 49'er trek from New Orleans to California for the Goldrush. He experiences the wagon train, Indian attacks and Bent's Old Fort but is ultimately side tracked and stopped at Sante Fe. He is then captured and marries an Apache princess and lives with them for 6 months and finally escapes.
26 years later, he is back in the US with his wife on her first US tour. Somehow he manages to be hoodwinked to the west where he is involved in the Indian Wars and ends up with Custer at Custer's last stand. Anyway, these are the highlights of the book.
These books are so well written. On the outside, they are just the humorous escapades of a womanizing and cowardly scoundrel. But they hide a highly keen historical/political commentary on the times in question with some pretty good tactical or strategic analysis of any battles that occur. It's not easy to write historical fiction that's accurate, this is one step harder disguising it as a scoundrel's autobiography that is also humorous.
26 years later, he is back in the US with his wife on her first US tour. Somehow he manages to be hoodwinked to the west where he is involved in the Indian Wars and ends up with Custer at Custer's last stand. Anyway, these are the highlights of the book.
These books are so well written. On the outside, they are just the humorous escapades of a womanizing and cowardly scoundrel. But they hide a highly keen historical/political commentary on the times in question with some pretty good tactical or strategic analysis of any battles that occur. It's not easy to write historical fiction that's accurate, this is one step harder disguising it as a scoundrel's autobiography that is also humorous.
tc2021's review
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
obscurereads's review against another edition
5.0
Classic Flashman. The great thing about the Flashman Papers is that every novel feels completely fresh - It never loses its magic, and is continually captivating. The way Fraser manages to interweave the fictional character Flashman into all the actual events and lives of real people throughout history is amazing, and the footnotes explaining real historical context makes you feel like you're actually learning history whilst being entertained.
Great as a stand-alone novel and even better when read as part of all the collection, the Flashman papers are a must-read for those who like spirited humour and historical fiction.
Great as a stand-alone novel and even better when read as part of all the collection, the Flashman papers are a must-read for those who like spirited humour and historical fiction.
smcleish's review
4.0
Originally published on my blog here in September 1999.
This is the seventh Flashman book, though the events it describes follow on directly from the third, [b:Flash for Freedom!|142465|Flash for Freedom! (The Flashman Papers, #3)|George MacDonald Fraser|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1303914458s/142465.jpg|2702899] In fact, Fraser slightly alters the ending of the earlier book so that Flashman doesn't actually get so far as on board a boat returning to England after his adventures with the Underground Railroad. Instead, he is catapulted into a journey across the West with the 'Forty-Niners, on their way to the California goldrush.
The second half of the novel is about Flashman's return twenty six years later, on what starts as a tourist trip for the benefit of his wife Elspeth and ends with his terrified participation in Custer's defeat at the Little Bighorn.
The book generally could be described as typical Flashman. The first part, however, is probably my least favourite of all the Flashman stories; he seems more unpleasant and less charming than usual. As usual, the background has been carefully researched by Fraser, and he skilfully manoeuvres Flashy in and out of desperate scrapes.
This is the seventh Flashman book, though the events it describes follow on directly from the third, [b:Flash for Freedom!|142465|Flash for Freedom! (The Flashman Papers, #3)|George MacDonald Fraser|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1303914458s/142465.jpg|2702899] In fact, Fraser slightly alters the ending of the earlier book so that Flashman doesn't actually get so far as on board a boat returning to England after his adventures with the Underground Railroad. Instead, he is catapulted into a journey across the West with the 'Forty-Niners, on their way to the California goldrush.
The second half of the novel is about Flashman's return twenty six years later, on what starts as a tourist trip for the benefit of his wife Elspeth and ends with his terrified participation in Custer's defeat at the Little Bighorn.
The book generally could be described as typical Flashman. The first part, however, is probably my least favourite of all the Flashman stories; he seems more unpleasant and less charming than usual. As usual, the background has been carefully researched by Fraser, and he skilfully manoeuvres Flashy in and out of desperate scrapes.
evakristin's review
3.0
As this book tells two stories set 25 years apart, I’m going to read the second half after finishing Flashman on the March.
The first half, concerning Flashman’s adventures in the American west in 1849-50, is as I expected; lots of fun, lots of knowledge. It’s not as nail bitingly exiting as some of the other books, but definitely worth the read. Three stars.
Just finished the second half, and I stand by what I said about the first one. I continue to be amazed by how MacDonald Fraser manages to put Flashman in the middle of dramatic historical events in elegant and believable ways.
The first half, concerning Flashman’s adventures in the American west in 1849-50, is as I expected; lots of fun, lots of knowledge. It’s not as nail bitingly exiting as some of the other books, but definitely worth the read. Three stars.
Just finished the second half, and I stand by what I said about the first one. I continue to be amazed by how MacDonald Fraser manages to put Flashman in the middle of dramatic historical events in elegant and believable ways.
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