Royal Flash, by George MacDonald Fraser (Flashman)

Royal Flash

George MacDonald Fraser

I saw Tom Brown's Schooldays* on PBS back when God was a child (or should that be Child?) so I knew who Flashman was. I also read The Reavers (reviewed here) and The Pyrates, so I knew to a point what to expect from George MacDonald Fraser. What I got was a fun read with some good laughs, but so absurd and hilarious as the latter two novels, but plenty intentionally derivative and full of historical cameos.

To get the historical and literary references out of the way, the factual historical figures are, among some minor celebrities, Baron Otto von Bismarck and Lola Montez. The latter was a notorious woman, a half Irish, half Spanish beauty who tried the stage abortively then wound up being the mistresses of quite a few crowned heads, or so it seems. (Her biography will be coming up in February on Random Biographies.) Not only does the Thomas Hughes novel about Tom Brown show up in this book, but you don't have to wonder if The Prisoner of Zenda comes to mind, because Flashman comes right out and says so. He takes credit for its inspiration as well as for the unification of the German states and the modern composition of Europe.

Flashman is recording his youthful escapades at the age of 81, in the early 20th century, so he may be forgiven for some questionable historical accuracy. In fact, one of the jokes for a historical novelist reading this book is that you find yourself noticing -- and then feeling silly about it -- all sorts of anachronisms. It's George Macdonald Fraser, you dolt, so of course it is off kilter. Time to relax.

In the beginning of the novel Harry Flashman meets both Otto and Lola while slipping away from a raid on a brothel. Lola takes to him right away, but Otto, not so much. He is ill used by both, and the use is mutual, nevertheless he jumps when she says "Come!" and has reason to regret it. He was just trying to get out of squiring his wife's sisters into London society, don't you know. He finds himself in a scheme to impersonate a member of the Danish royal family, which he does so well that the Dane's noble bride doesn't think twice about leaping into bed with him on "their" wedding night.

And, of course, it's all hush-hush and Flashman can't take credit for a bit of it.

The humor is more subtle than in the two novels mentioned above, is full of humorous cultural and pop cultural references, and is seated in Flashman's character, though, of course, he has none. Definitely an anti-hero of a lighter kind.

I will definitely read more Flashman novels. The crypto-history and genuine hysteria will be well worth it.

This book came to me from the National Library Services for the Blind as a digital talking book.

* I actually don't think the movie this link leads to is the same as the PBS series, but it could be worth a look to see.

Hood, by Stephen Lawhead - King Raven Trilogy

Hood


Stephen Lawhead

King Raven Trilogy

The author of this novel takes pains in the epilogue to assure the reader there is nothing goofy about setting the Robin Hood stories in Wales. First, he asserts that the tales are such a mix of different stories and versions that Robin Hood could have come from anywhere, that troubadours often put local place names in their songs to impress the crowds. Then he goes on to cite different reasons he thinks the Hood stories really came from Wales. Obviously he expects some dissent. Frankly, that the novel and its two sequels take place in Wales is not where I have problems with the trilogy. That it is a mixed up bit of Wales and a couple of other factors is.

Bran is the motherless wight whose dad, the king of a Welsh paradise, grew up irresponsible. When the nasty Normans under William Rufus come and kill the king and most of his warriors while they are on their way to London to swear fealty Bran decides to go in the king's place. He not only does not get to see Rufus but is told by his Chief Justiciar that the guy who killed Bran's dad bought his kingdom. He offers the kingdom back to Bran for 500 marks. Bran, who is furious, nevertheless heads home to get the money. I shouldn't forget to mention that he meets a friar whom he calls Tuck who christens tall Iwan "Little John"... get it? Got it. Good. Well, the bad Norman already stole all the money Bran expects to use to buy back the kingdom. Bran is mad and decides to go north.

To make a longish story shorter, Bran gets captured, gets away, is wounded and is rescued by a wise woman named Angharad. While she nurses him back to health she acquaints him with an alternate identity for himself, a legendary hero called Rí Bran or "King Raven". She ultimately takes him to a camp of outlaws in ... you guessed it... the forest. They decide the only way to get the money is to steal it, and since they are not an army they must resort to trickery. They manage a King Raven haunting hoax. Finally they take the money to the Justiciar again, and this time the slimy Norman says the price is higher now. Bran loses it and shoots everyone... and if you know your Rufus story you guess, though you never know in this novel, that one of the people he shoots is the king himself. When he gets back to Wales he tries to ally with a nasty baron who wants to kill him, but Bran takes maid Marian hostage and... hey wait a minute, where did the baron and Marian come from? And should this be the end of the novel?

I love Robin Hood stories dearly, so I was a happy reader for the most part. There are places where I start to get antsy: Angharad is supposed to be Welsh, right? Then how come so many of her beliefs and expressions are Irish? Just for the record, Welsh and Gaelic are not in the same family of languages, but two separate tracks, British and Gaelic. The magic in the book is half-hearted, not really claimed nor explained. The Maid Marian character is the daughter of a different Welsh king and is getting into the luxury of Norman noble life when Bran shows up and snatches her. She is none too pleased, partially because he was such a cad to her before. The whole business with the "hunting accident" at the king's hunting camp is a melange of the historical account and what the author wanted for this novel and therefore is almost not recognizable as the same story.

The hauntings are clever, the Welsh information (when not Irish) is intriguing, but I can't say I'm going to put the sequels up in the reading list any time soon.

I bought this novel from the Amazon Kindle store. I listened to it with the text-to-speech, which is fortunate since the "print" was in some annoying font that ultimately made the "reader" pronounce separated words oddly and occasionally put an "F" in front of Tuck's name. That added some humor to the tale of a dour Hood.

Fortunes of War, by Mel Keegan

Fortunes of War


Mel Keegan

Dermot Shannon is the bodyguard of the Spanish Ambassador in the court of Queen Elizabeth I. After someone tries to poison the ambassador, Shannon acompanies him to the country estate of Robert Armagh, a Catholic bent on revenge for the murder of his pretty wife. There Shannon meets Armagh's son, Robin, and it is love, almost, at first sight. Robin is young, starved for a father's approval and affection, and ripe for the picking. What Shannon didn't count on was falling in love.

Sadly the two must part, because England and Spain are now at war. While his dashing lover goes back to Spain to fight for that country, Robin leaves the family estate for London and a new life. Before he can leave, though, his father gets wind of his tryst with the Hiberno-Spaniard and has the crap beat out of him by the priests. In London he gets work as a cartographer, pines for Shannon, fears he is dead and then concludes he had never been more than a boy toy for Shannon, and gives up and marries the boss's daughter. When his brother is held in the Caribbean for ransom, he takes ship only to find himself captured by... Shannon! The rest of the story is kissing and making up, fighting rival privateers, lots of swash to buckle, and lots of graphic sex.

So... love, longing, swashbuckling, pirates, sex... what's not to love? This novel is not meant to be painstakingly historically accurate, but Keegan seems to have the spirit of Elizabethan politics and war in his/her hands. It's a sweet love story for the most part, though the desertion of wife and kids by Robin is only topped by his decision to marry and have kids when he should have known better. There is an awful lot of the use of the word "boys" in this novel, but never fear... it really means older boys.. young men.. I hope. In reality, boys it might be, but you know how people will talk.

I'm glad I read it, can see why Brandy Purdy recommended it, it being her era and m/m and all. I was just happy to find it on Kindle, so I bought it, had it sent to my Kindle, and enjoyed a good entertaining read.

City of Lovely Brothers, by Anel Viz

http://www.wildeoats.com/MainPage
City of Lovely Brothers

Anel Viz

This novel has so much going for it I hardly know where to start. It is a sweeping story of the development of the American West, an unusually complete and honest family saga, and has one of the best portrayals of a character with a disability in historical fiction that I have read.

Read the rest of this review at Wilde Oats.

In fact, this entire issue of Wilde Oats has a historical theme.  Check it out!

FICTION

Once We Won Matches
by Charlie Cochrane

England beating Australia at cricket and his lover at his side to watch it with him; what more could Jonty Stewart want? Maybe a nice, juicy case of some missing papers, papers of national importance . . .

Conversations in a Horse
by Michael Gouda

For soldiers waiting in the dark to attack the enemy, feelings of all sorts run high. Of course, being imprisoned in a wooden horse doesn't help. A playlet based on a scene from Virgil's classic poem, The Aeneid.

Comfort and Joy
by Matt Brooks

1918 was a year of dramatic struggles worldwide. Lulu Clement met the challenges head-on.

An Involuntary King
by Nan Hawthorne

A young Anglo Saxon king must rely on his own and his friends' courage and strength against those who oppose him. In this chapter one of those friends, an Irish bard, faces a choice involving one of the king's enemies who won't brook a refusal.

Moonrise over the Nile
by Anel Viz

Pharaoh Neferhotep I wants to repudiate Nepensiret, his wife and sister, and make his Nubian lover Queen of Egypt. But the Queen-Mother has other plans.

Ten Pages, Single Spaced
by Richard Natale

Darby is a poverty-stricken student, facing eviction from his tiny flat, when he's offered a singular, but well-paid job. However... there's a catch.

The Secretary
by Anne Eldridge

Zandry suspects her husband, Robert, is involved with another woman.

Christmas Eve
by Brian Holliday

Adam has always hated Christmas, but he's a professional. It doesn't bother him at all to be asked to come up with an ad campaign for a toy company in time for the holidays; at least, not until he meets Traditional Toys junior executive, Nicholas.

Clockworld
by RJ Astruc

There's something wrong about Clockworld, but no one seems to be able to put a finger on it. Is it the planet itself? Or is it the people who live there?

Parts one and two are published in this issue, and parts three and four will be published in the April issue

NONFICTION

Reviews

My Queer War

by Stan Ridge

A review of James Lord's autobiography

Quickies
by Nigel Puerasch

Quick reviews of books and films

How to Seduce a Vampire
by Robert Tilendis

A review of the yaoi artist Nimosaku Shimoda's collection of cartoon stories about Masatsuna Watanabe and Kureha Mizuo

Gaveston
by Liz Nicholson

A review of Chris Hunt's historical novel about the love between Piers Gaveston and Edward II.

The House in Birdgate Alley
by Margaret Whitfield

A review of Anel Viz's detective story set in Victorian London.

City of Lovely Brothers
by Nan Hawthorne

A review of Anel Viz's novella set in late nineteenth century Montana.

The Lord John series
by Liz Nicholson

Lord John Grey plays a small part in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, but is the main character in these three books. Liz Nicholson reviews the books about this sympathetic, attractive and likable 18th century gentleman.

Secret Historian, by Justin Spring
A review by Stan Ridge

The fascinating story of the life and times of Samuel Stewart, sexual renegade, tattoo artist, professor.

Boudica
by Liz Nicholson

Probably every English schoolchild learns about Boudica, the Celtic warrior-queen who resisted the Roman invasion. Liz Nicholson reviews the quartet written by Manda Scott covering this era of pre-Christian Britons and Romans.

Plus Opinion, News, Letter s and Artwork!

The publisher supplied me with an accessible format version of City of Lovely Brothers for my review.

Sharpe's Siege, by Bernard Cornwell - Richard Sharpe Adventure Series

Sharpe's Siege

Bernard Cornwell

Richard Sharpe Adventure Series

Here is a different sort of Richard Sharpe, one who is grieving for the likely deaths of a friend and his wife, faced with nothing but treachery and a useless mission.  He turns it around, for the most part,  and claims a victory that may be questionable but is a success in its own right.

Cornwell admits in the author's note that this siege of a fortress at Teste la Buch, never happened.  Sharpe, leaving his friend Hogan and probably his wife Jane sick with fever, leaves aboard a Royal Navy ship for said fortress.  He is plagued by one oaf after another: Wigram, a high mucky muck with more mouth than brains, a French spy called The Pimp, and Capt. Horace Bamfylde, angling for glory on the backs of the real heroes.  In other words, your usual villains in Sharpe's stories.  Throw in Pierre Ducos and you have a quartet.  The cool guys in this one are enemies, an American privateer named Capt. Cornelius Killick and a bookish Frenchman named Col. Henri Lassan.

Wellington's army is in France now, on the Bay of Biscay.  Sharpe is sent with Bamfylde and le Comte de Marquerre (nickname "the Pimp") to lend credence to leaked stories that Wellington plans a landing on the French coast rather than what they are really doing, making a pontoon bridge of boats across a river to invade.  Bamfylde's ineptness does not prevent Sharpe from taking the fortress, but he plans to take credit.  So he is thrilled when Sharpe appears to have been captured by the French.  He blows up the fortress and sails away into the night with credit intact.

But Sharpe was not captured.  In fact he does the winning of a battle during which he figures out the Pimp is a spy in league with the Bonapartists.  To make a long story short, he goes back to the fortress, and with the help of the American privateer, escapes a siege of the fortress by a French brigade.  He tells a Good Colonel he won, though how getting successfully out of the fortress is winning, I don't know.  Back with the British at the end he can't decide who to kill first, Bamfylde or the Pimp.  Mostly all he wants is to learn if Hogan and his wife are still alive.  And that's all I will say about that.

The story is different largely because Sharpe is a lot more personal and emotional in this one than he has been of late.  He is feeling the waning interest in soldiering that comes with a lovely and beloved wife.  His fear that she will have died and already buried by the time he gets back colors his decisions during the mission more than any other single issue.  His anger at the pompous and duplicitous is even sharper than usual.  The story though tremendously entertaining, with its battle details and clever twists and tricks, is almost irrelevant.. it could have been anything.

As always, my husband Jim read this to me.. and he and I both agree we liked it a lot.  There is just so much going on that you can sink your teeth into.

The next in the series is Sharpe's Revenge, I think... then Waterloo, which I have read, and Sharpe's Devil, which both of us have, but we will read them again... have I left one out?  We hear Cornwell is working on one more...