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It almost slipped past me, but I saw a notice of the death of George McDonald Fraser and I thought surely there must be other BCTS readers who liked his novels. In fact it was Alys's highwaylady that jogged my memory (pure accidental mental association, you understand).
He was of course best known for his "Flashman" series, but also wrote several stories about WW2 and the years immediately after, plus a few brilliant historical stories totally "stand-alone".
His stuff was completely non-PC and he used to delight me with his jaundiced eyed puncturing of various historical figures, as Flashy swaggered or skulked his way through the many empires and kingdoms of the time. Reading the meticulously researched footnotes was half the fun and he certainly educated me in some of the adventures in which his "hero" became embroiled.
I just felt his passing should not go unnoticed here,
Joanne
Comments
Shame
Used to read the Flashman series when I was overseas, my brother got them on the oil rigs in the North Sea. Hugely funny and campy, even if they were inappropriate reading for someone of my age. But I'd have read anything; I even read romance novels!
I never knew how much of the history presented was real and how much was fiction, but most of it didn't stick anyway, so no harm done.
Karen J.
"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose"
Janis Joplin
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
Flashman was a real good book series
I think I have them all, I'll have to check, and buy the rest if I don't.
Mr. Ram
I can't honestly say I know who Mr. Fraser is, or was,
but the loss of an author is always a tragedy. I'll have to look up some of his work and give it a read.
R.I.P. Mr. Fraser.
Catherine Linda Michel
As a T-woman, I do have a Y chromosome... it's just in cursive, pink script.
Huh
Here I was going to say I thought the couple of telly-movies I saw with Sean Bean were great, but maybe not quite true to the books... then I've never read any of the books. Still something didn't seem right... Wiki to the rescue; Duh... Sharpe by Bernard Cromwell... oops. Ok, just give me a slap and I'll skulk off.
It is sad to hear of a passing though, RIP Mr Fraser.
Kristina
Oil and Water
Though it would require literary time travel a meeting between the two characters would have been enjoyable. Although I can already picture the end of the book, a frustrated Sharpe waiting in a field with Patrick willing to risk his career in order to kill the rougish Flashman in a morning duel, while that worthy was boarding a ship back to the island, escaping the madman's heavy cavalry blade.
Thank you for the enjoyment over the years Mr. Fraser, good luck on your next adventure.
You Have Them Both Pat
Yes Arcie Emm. I'm sure that would be exactly right. Sharpe with steam coming out of his ears while Flashy once again exercised the better part of valour, but ended up out of the frying pan into deeper doo-doo to mix a few metaphors. However, the ladies always liked him, so he got lots of consolation prizes,
Joanne