Ah yes, that's it
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Book Nook: The Flashman Series, by George MacDonald Fraser
- Thread starter AndyC
- Start date
- Location
- Visiting BWBs.
That might have been the Mali Rising work from Jonathan Edelstein.
See here for one
Malê Rising
I don't know. I've had a hard time buying this empire in general (the Unfascist Britain's view of India would have made more sense to me), but I can't see British soldiers doing this. Well, don't use soldiers then. Have an "Imperial Guard", a group of loyal party members, do the job. That'd do...www.alternatehistory.com
Hm. It's nicely written and all that, and it captures a lot of the spirit of the books.
But it's not something GMF would ever have written. The problem can be encapsulated in this phrase in the text:
But I found that I couldn’t shrug, not with the boy in front of me no more than ten years old and his late sister no doubt even younger. And this was an injury we had caused, rather than the normal vicissitudes of life for those unfortunate enough to be born wogs. It was… unnecessary, a waste.
Nope. GMF would never have written that. To quote from Page 158 of The Sign's on at Signpost:
I believe that the case for the British Empire as one of the best things to happen to an undeserving world is proved, open and shut.... no other country did half as much to spread freedom, law, good government and democratic principle around the globe; as a civilising force, Britain and its Empire were unique, and if proof is required one need only compare the state of imperial lands when they were under the Union flag, with their present condition. At best, as in India and many smaller, usually insular, territories where British influence lingers most strongly, the peoples are no better governed than they were, to say the least; at worst, independence (laughably called freedom) has been a ghastly tragedy, as in those African countries which have been transformed from prosperous, law-abiding colonies into bankrupt bloody dictatorships...
So, no. I don't accept that a character who is such a mouthpiece of GMF would consider accepting that the British Empire was specifically at fault. Not even with evidence standing in front of him.
That's a quote that brings to mind Pertwee's Doctor asking the Controller why there's rebels if his regime's so great - "don't they like being happy and prosperous?"
That's a very good point. As Edelstein's version was my introduction to Flashman, you can imagine how much I hated the real one!Nope. GMF would never have written that. To quote from Page 158 of The Sign's on at Signpost:
- Location
- UK
The British Empire did indeed spread the ideas of freedom, law etc, but also made it crystal clear that they didn't apply to anyone but those in charge. The American Empire behaved exactly the same way, but was able to disguise it better because it was all contiguous territory, not scattered across the globe.Hm. It's nicely written and all that, and it captures a lot of the spirit of the books.
But it's not something GMF would ever have written. The problem can be encapsulated in this phrase in the text:
But I found that I couldn’t shrug, not with the boy in front of me no more than ten years old and his late sister no doubt even younger. And this was an injury we had caused, rather than the normal vicissitudes of life for those unfortunate enough to be born wogs. It was… unnecessary, a waste.
Nope. GMF would never have written that. To quote from Page 158 of The Sign's on at Signpost:
I believe that the case for the British Empire as one of the best things to happen to an undeserving world is proved, open and shut.... no other country did half as much to spread freedom, law, good government and democratic principle around the globe; as a civilising force, Britain and its Empire were unique, and if proof is required one need only compare the state of imperial lands when they were under the Union flag, with their present condition. At best, as in India and many smaller, usually insular, territories where British influence lingers most strongly, the peoples are no better governed than they were, to say the least; at worst, independence (laughably called freedom) has been a ghastly tragedy, as in those African countries which have been transformed from prosperous, law-abiding colonies into bankrupt bloody dictatorships...
So, no. I don't accept that a character who is such a mouthpiece of GMF would consider accepting that the British Empire was specifically at fault. Not even with evidence standing in front of him.
Just read and enjoyed it Thought of continuing it?A Frozen Spring, linked in my sig - the character is Captain Blenkinsopp.
My reply- there's always malcontents.That's a very good point. As Edelstein's version was my introduction to Flashman, you can imagine how much I hated the real one!
- Location
- Over the rainbow
Flashpig in Animal Farm: All animals are free - some free to write the laws, others free to follow the laws.The British Empire did indeed spread the ideas of freedom, law etc, but also made it crystal clear that they didn't apply to anyone but those in charge. The American Empire behaved exactly the same way, but was able to disguise it better because it was all contiguous territory, not scattered across the globe.
Flashpig in Animal Farm
Flash-ham.
JesterBL
Gastronaut
- Location
- Flyover Country, USA
- Pronouns
- he/him
Turns out they (GMF/Wheatley) were friends/correspondents and the auction of GMF's library included multiple signed copies of Wheatley's books, including one made out to George Flashman.I will say one of the more interesting unacknowledged influences (and this is pure speculation on my part) is Dennis Wheatley's Roger Brook series. Roger Brook is less dishonorable (Dennis Wheatley wants a hero) but this often conflicts with the reactionary views and predilection for violence the character shows. There was some suspiciously similar phrasing on their faculty with language that I recall, as well as the 'dung under a rosebush' family origins (with Brook having Jacobites in the family pool).