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Flashman

The Flashman Papers, Book 1

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Flashman

By: George MacDonald Fraser
Narrated by: Colin Mace
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About this listen

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.

Flashman, soldier, duellist, lover, imposter, coward, cad and hero, triumphs in this first instalment of The Flashman Papers. His adventures as the reluctant secret agent in Afghanistan and his entry into the exclusive company of Lord Cardigan’s Hussars culminate in his foulest hour – his part in the historic disaster of the Retreat from Kabul.

This is the story of a blackguard who enjoyed villainy for its own sake. Shameless, exciting and funny, Flashman’s deplorable odyssey is observed with the cynical eye of a scoundrel who was honest only in reporting what he saw. He makes all other black sheep look respectable grey.

©2015 George MacDonald Fraser (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Espionage Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Spies & Politics Sports Thriller & Suspense War & Military Exciting Witty

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All stars
Most relevant
A true great autobiography of one the bravest men who made our British empire great !

Brilliant Fantastic a real ripper of a story

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Having served in a British Cavalry regiment and loving the history of the empire, I have always been a big fan of GMF. I have read and listened to the Flashman books for a number of years and having fallen in love with the Narration by Timothy West, I found it difficult to listen to Colin Mace in this Book. He lacked the passion and energy we all loved about TW.
All I would say for those that agree is that he improves 100% in other books in the series. He eventually finds his inner Flashman and subsequently takes the listener on the amazing adventures we all love.

Almost

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I've read/ listened to this book 4 or 5 times since I discovered the series when I was in my early twenties. It has lost nothing and I enjoyed it as much today as when I first discovered it.

A true classic

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A truly fantastic story of a completely scurrilous unforgivable cad and bounder. Somehow, despite all that, one can’t help but like to laugh at his antics, adventures and good fortunes. Just as good on audible as on paper.

Think of Sharpe....then think again!

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Well performed and a great story.
As a big fan of the books, one thing sadly missing from the audio is the notes which give a insight into the historical sources and timelines used by GMF and weave in layers to an already great story.

Good listen

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