Flashman and the Tiger and Other Extracts from the Flashman Papers

Once again, GMF delivers a well crafted, historically accurate, yet side-splitting Flashman adventure. As a veteran of the Flashman Papers, I cannot say this is my favorate, however I wouldn't be able to choose just one anyway. If you've read any of the other books, you'll love this one. If you haven't, you'll want to read them all!

This is book in the 11th Flashman series, and in it, Fraser offers a new look at the (mis)adventures of Sir Harry Flashman, a "celebrated Victorian soldier, scoundrel, amorist, and self-confessed poltroon." Unlike the previous books, it collects three unrelated stories of varied length in one volume. The first is a 228 page episode which starts with Flashman aiding and abetting some journalistic espionage at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. It ends with him once again hanging on for dear life while tangled in the weblike machinations of his old foe Otto von Bismark and an assassination attempt on old Emperor Franz-Joseph. It takes rather a long time to set up and indeed flags at the beginning, but by the end, where reversals pile atop eachother, it's worthy of any Flashman tale. The second tale explains a Victorian gambling scandal, and is reasonably diverting, if not action-packed. The final story places Flashman in the midst of the 1879 Zulu uprising and has him surviving the legendary battle at Roarke's Drift and then moves forward 15 years to London and a hilarious meeting with Sherlock Holmes. Unlike others, I think these stories make a good introduction to the series for the initiated.

Although some are not happy this was not the long anticipated Civil War chronicles of Sir Harry- who cares! Fraser manages to continue to entertain with a well researched story seamlessly inserting Flashy into the action. Well crafted dialog makes reading any of this series a pleasure. I can't wait to revel in our heroes exploits with J.E.B. Stuart, but this will hold me over until then.

Oh, happy day! Another Flashman book from George MacDonald Fraser! FLASHMAN AND THE TIGER does not disappoint (as if any Flashman could), bringing the trimly aging Flashy--still his appealingly reprehensible self--into contact with a blast from his past in the person of Willem von Starnberg (Rudi's son/ROYAL FLASH), the staid and stuffy Emperor Franz-Josef, and the customary bevy of wily and manipulative female beauties panting after Our Hero's legendary manhood. EGAD! At sixty, Flashy can still put a lusty temptress half his age through her paces from dusk 'til dawn, and after a bottle of champagne or brandy at that! Not a Viagra case he! As we fans all know, in spite of his many decadent indulgences, Flashman suffers very little ill health--apart from a tendency toward chronic flatulence--throughout his long life (he lives into his nineties). In many ways, he is a second literary embodiment of Wilde's Dorian Gray--with an infinitely better sense of humor. Suffice to say that any Flashman is a joy, and G.M.Fraser is at the top of his usual superb form with FLASHMAN AND THE TIGER. Live long, Mr. Fraser: we need at least ten or twenty more Flashman books from you!

It's extraordinary that American fans of modern literature's greatest poltroon (no, there's no translation of this word in today's English) are prepared to wait a whole year between the UK and US releases of their antihero's unfolding saga - especially in the age of the internet.For those of you new to Fraser's creation, you can read the reviews of the other titles in the series. Enough to say they're a brilliant and unique mix of history, action and comedy. This volume breaks with the tradition by presenting three short stories (rather than a single novel-length episode). The format suits the character particularly well. Each of the three stands alone, yet each also links to the other stories in the series. One describes the great Boer War skirmish of Rourke's Drift, with a surprise guest star from the Wild West. Another delves into the intricacies of late 19th Century politics, with French journalist spies, courtesans, and an early plot to assassinate Emperor Franz Josef (our hero naturally delaying an early start to WW I here).Yet the undisputed star of the trio tells of Flashman's encounter with the other semi-mythical character of the era - Sherlock Holmes. The irony here is entrancing, as the two literary figures have so much in common - not least occupying worlds so superbly crafted you almost want to believe in them - and yet are polar opposites in temperament. The wit is glittering; the attention to historical detail is breathtaking; and the reader, as ever, is left wishing that the encounter had lasted just a little longer.This is not the best Flashman to read if you're new to the character; but absolutely unmissable if you're already hooked.