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Flashman cover art

Flashman

By: George MacDonald Fraser
Narrated by: Rupert Penry-Jones
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Summary

Harry Flashman - the unrepentant bully of Tom Brown’s schooldays, now with a Victoria Cross - has three main talents: horsemanship, facility with foreign languages, and fornication. A reluctant military hero, Flashman plays a key part in most of the defining military campaigns of the 19th century, despite trying his utmost to escape them all. Expelled from Rugby for drunkenness, and none too welcome at home after seducing his father’s mistress, the young Flashman embarks on a military career with Lord Cardigan’s Hussars.

En route to Afghanistan, our hero hones his skills as a soldier, duellist, imposter, coward, and amorist (mastering all 97 ways of Hindu love-making during a brief sojourn in Calcutta), before being pressed into reluctant service as a secret agent. His Afghan adventures culminate in a starring role in that great historic disaster, the Retreat from Kabul.

©2012 George MacDonald Fraser (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"The Flashman Papers do what all great sagas do – winning new admirers along the way but never, ever betraying old ones. It is an immense achievement." ( Sunday Telegraph)
"Not only are the Flashman books extremely funny, but they give meticulous care to authenticity. You can, between the guffaws, learn from them." ( Washington Post)

What listeners say about Flashman

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    3 out of 5 stars

Excellent Performance, Mediocre Story

What made the experience of listening to Flashman the most enjoyable?

The performance by Rupert Penry-Jones was perfect. Very convincing as both Flashman as well as the dodery old Generals and Majors that pop-up throughout the book.

Would you recommend Flashman to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes - although perhaps not the easily offended!

Which scene did you most enjoy?

When Flashman's in hospital having the stories of his heroism recounted (all of which are false) and Flashman finding out the only person who knew of his cowardice was dead.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Meet Flashman, the Cowardly Cad

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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Caution!

I bought this without checking thoroughly. It’s Abridged! I hate abridged books, so I’ve not listened to it. I’ll read the book instead. But the book is great, and from the samples I’ve listened to, this reader is good too. But… abridged… It’s such a shame. I’d love to listen to the full stories…

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Flashman

Enjoyed this story made better by the brilliant narration, love the General voice! My word, I wouldn’t have wanted to live in those times but very funny, they or we would be hung drawn and quartered these days

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Rupert PJ plays an excellent Flashy

I have read many of the Flashman Papers books in the past but Rupert Perry-Jones really brings him to life, it is a shame he has only performed 2.

An excellent rip roaring story, you can’t help but love Flashy, the scoundrel that he is!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best History Lesson Ever

What made the experience of listening to Flashman the most enjoyable?

The story telling is great and the fact that this is historically accurate is fascinating. The 1st Afghan war and the follow ups is a real eye opener on individual heroism and adventuring beyond known maps (of the time). All the more fascinating due to the current political climate.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Has to be Flashy - don't you know (says I). But the Sergeant is a close second with the Afghan nemesis

What about Rupert Penry-Jones’s performance did you like?

Rupert really brings the story and characters to life. Each is given their own larger than life personality. Expert story teller - have listened to Rupert's other Flashman stories all excellently done

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I could

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Flashman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What made the experience of listening to Flashman the most enjoyable?

The weaving of historical /military events with humor, rich, brilliant nasty characters...you can't like Flashman - not that he cares - but you have to admire his ability to squirm and get away - just fabulous.

What did you like best about this story?

The merging of history (some not that well known) and fiction - somehow makes the real events more vivid

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Turning this off midstream would have been criminal; indeed I'm sure Flashman would have roasted me over a fire for it!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Politically incorrect masterpeice

Whatever you think of the outdated language and behaviour of Flashman, the fact remains that he is one of the funniest, engaging, amoral characters in 20th century literarture. Cognitive dissonance is required on the part of the reader! Historically the books are spot on and you will learn an astonishing amount of information regarding British military blunders. The performance of Rupert Penry-Jones in this audiobook is outstanding. His intonation is perfect. For me he is the best narrator of the Flashman papers and I wish he had done more than the three I am aware of. Highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent as expected

Hateful but strangely likeable character with a large dose of humour and early 19th Century history from the perspective of a fictional eye witness.
No doubt the lefties and virtue signallers will be outraged and triggered by the language and attitudes of the day. Normal people however will for the most part find this somewhat disturbing in places but very funny in others. I loved it and look forward to the next one.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen when you need a laugh

Beautifully narrated too!

Anyone who knew a bully at boarding school will comprehend what goes on... Day scholars might miss the gist altogether!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
  • BC
  • 06-03-22

some interesting history but..

the plot is as thin as weak cabbage soup although the reader does well with a range of characters

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