"Captain Fantom" Topic
10 Posts
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| noimtheotherguy | 28 Jan 2012 9:25 a.m. PST |
by Charles Underhill (Reginald Hill). I enjoyed the story of this incorrigible monster, and reading about his crazy exploits, involving, among other things, convincing Wallenstein that he had magic powers, and the fact that he was the one who killed Gustavus Adolphus. He meets directly with Axel Oxenstierna, Tilly, and almost every important personage of the 30YW and ECW. A rousing good adventure story, though obviously pure fiction. The fact that Hill claims to have gotten the story from some mysterious noblewoman brought low only confirms this. However, a few times now I have seen him treated in historical works as a historical figure. He is quoted in at least one book about the English Civil War regarding his reasons for serving as a mercenary on both sides, in a manner that in no way indicates he is anything but historical. I suppose it is not impossible for a real man to make up ridiculous stories about himself. Many tall tales exist about Baron Muenchausen, Davy Crocket, Mike Fink, etc. Was he a historical person, or just a creation of Hill's that somehow slipped into afew history books? |
| Dropship Horizon | 28 Jan 2012 9:34 a.m. PST |
Real. Carlo Fantom. Croatian? Great quote: 'I care not for your Cause, I fight for your halfe-crowne, and your handsome woemen'. Cheers
Mark |
| noimtheotherguy | 28 Jan 2012 10:17 a.m. PST |
Source? Not trying to do the "TMP Duel", just genuinely curious. At a minimum, three quarters of that stuff can't be true. |
| Dropship Horizon | 28 Jan 2012 10:30 a.m. PST |
Aubrey's Brief Lives. Fantom was a Lieutenat at Edgehill in Grenvilles Troop of Goodwin's Regiment of Horse. Later Captain in 1643. Cheers
Mark |
| noimtheotherguy | 28 Jan 2012 10:35 a.m. PST |
Interesting. I wonder how much Hill's work was historical, and how much, "I, Claudius"? |
| Dropship Horizon | 28 Jan 2012 10:52 a.m. PST |
Well he's a great character on which to base a story. Cheers
Mark |
| Timbo W | 28 Jan 2012 10:56 a.m. PST |
I have a vague memory of Fantom supposedly claimimg to be a 'hard man' whom leaden bullets could not touch (Haythornthwaite or Brig. Young probably). Despite this he was badly wounded at Edgehill. Maybe the Royalists used a silver bullet? ;-O I must get the novel! |
| noimtheotherguy | 28 Jan 2012 8:50 p.m. PST |
Hard man and a lot of other silly stuff as well. As I said, it is a fun read, but, since it seems there was a historical character, I wonder how much the book has to do with the reality. |
| SteelonSand | 29 Jan 2012 5:24 a.m. PST |
More on the 'Hardman' phenomenon, and on Fantom in particular: link Not the most salubrious of characters in his original form, if the authors of the Anecdotes in 1839 are to be believed….. |
| noimtheotherguy | 29 Jan 2012 1:12 p.m. PST |
Interesting piece of source material. Thanks SteelonSand! |
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