"Flashman and Mr Maddisons War" Topic

Just ran across this and wondered if any one out there has read it yet? Although a Flashman novel it is not by The Late Great George Mcdonald Fraser but someone else who has decided to take the character (actually a relative) and run with it. Still sometimes these things are a good read, other times not so much.

If you have read it did you like it? Was it worth the read? Inquiring minds wish to know. I am not familiar with any other historical fiction concerning the war of 1812.so recommendations appreciated!

Flash Harry himself would have been either way too young
or not yet born to participate in the 1812 festivities.

I absolutely refuse to read a "Flashman" novel not written by George MacDonald Fraser.

I was with Winston, but, I must admit that I succumbed and have been following this series and they are not that bad. The historical detail is very good and the stories flow well. However, this Flashman (Thomas, his uncle) is not quite the cad that Harry was and in some ways is quite decent. In some ways he reminds me of the Ethan Gage novels but I suppose the Flashman link was the hook. They could well stand by themselves with a hero with a different name. Personally, I would recommend them.

I agree with Artilleryman. I have read the series and have enjoyed them. They really do not need the Flashman hook. In this case it is more a tip of the hat.

Thank you for the reviews. Looks like I will try the book series. Many thanks folks!

The adventures of Thomas Flashman (Harry's uncle) are written down by Robert Brightwell. I have read all five of them (Waterloo seems to be the next) and enjoyed them enormously ! Like Winston I did not expect an new well done "Flashman" series but it would be wise to try. For instance in the second book (about the Cobra) we learn the truth about how Sir Arthur Wellesley, the later Duke of Wellington, decided in the Peninsular War to have his infantry lying down to keep out of harm's way if possible ;-))). Really great fun and I am sure Mr Fraser would have loved it !

The Brightwell books are by far the best of the 'Flashman tribute' acts out there and his writing is improving all the time – read them as Napoleonic historical romps (arguably better than many of the Sharpe series) and you won't be disappointed.

I wouldn't mind seeing the rest of the Harry Flashman papers being taken over by another author who can put in the same amount of wit and historical detail. After all, we never got the ACW saga that promised so much (he fought on both sides), the reign of Maximillian in Mexico or a proper Zulu war story.

I WOULD mind.
Fraser and his heirs are the only ones who should be permitted to take up the quill.
His daughter Cara is an accomplished writer in her own right. Her or nobody.

As for the "promised" stories, they are basically Fraser's giant rat of Sumatra. He threw a bone.
Notice that his last book was about Abyssinia, and not the Civil War. Had he been interested in writing it, he would have.
I am content with the tantalizing hints rather than a hack job.

I realize that Fraser took Flashy from Tom Brown's School Days.
So if someone wants to use the family name but not include him, I guess I'm ok with that.
The Peshawar Lancers has Flashy's portrait hanging in the family home, and a villain is a Count Ignatief. It's a tribute, not a ripoff, so it passed my smell test.

Winston, it's definitely worth reading Brightwell as a tribute rather than a rip-off of the GMcD series. I'd skip the first ("…and the Seawolf") as the subsequent books were, for me, far superior and getting better all the time.

And I agree with you that the original series is best left incomplete, especially given some of the execrable attempts to exploit the mother lode in recent years.