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"Best Flashman Papers?" Topic


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397 hits since 16 Jan 2026
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Personal logo Flashman14 Supporting Member of TMP16 Jan 2026 1:58 p.m. PST

There's an implied demand here after seeing the poll suggestions for the best and worst of the Richard Sharpe novels.

So I put it to you: which is your favorite, or the best, Flashman novel by George MacDonald Fraser?

Flashman 1839–1842 Britain, India and Afghanistan
Royal Flash 1842–1843 Britain, Germany and Denmark
Flashman's Lady 1842–1845 Britain, Borneo and Madagascar
Flashman and the Mountain of Light 1845–1846 Indian Punjab
Royal Flash 1847–1848 Germany and Denmark
Flash for Freedom! 1848–1849 Britain, West Africa and USA
Flashman and the Redskins 1849–1850, 1875–1876 USA
Flashman at the Charge 1854–1855 Britain, Crimea and Central Asia
Flashman in the Great Game 1856–1858 Britain and India
Flashman and the Angel of the Lord 1858–1859 India, South Africa and USA
Flashman and the Dragon 1860 China
Flashman on the March 1867–1868 Mexico, Abyssinia
"The Road to Charing Cross" 1878 Berlin, 1883–1884 Europe
"Flashman and the Tiger" 1879 Africa, 1894 Britain
"The Subtleties of Baccarat" 1890 & 1891 Britain

The editor, if he so wishes, can make this a call for the worst of them, as the list is the same. I refuse to facilitate such a thing here, though, as they are all excellent in their way.

Aside: I'm going through the early Carry On films, and Shirley Eaton is who I picture for Elspeth.

35thOVI Supporting Member of TMP16 Jan 2026 2:25 p.m. PST

Flashman at the charge

Most of his India/Afgan books were his best.

Personal logo John the OFM Supporting Member of TMP16 Jan 2026 5:13 p.m. PST

Flash for Freedom, which immediately segues into Flashman and the Redskins.

Personal logo enfant perdus Supporting Member of TMP16 Jan 2026 8:16 p.m. PST

Flashman in the Great Game

It has all the usual Flashy ingredients (wit, ribaldry, close run things, etc.) but it also has more pathos than any of the others. Much of it is the setting; the Mutiny is chock full of genuine horrors and heroics and the reader is not spared. GMF also did a good job of conveying that Flashman was a bit more affected by this campaign than most others. There's less bluff and playing things down, and a lot more serious and sober recollection. I rate it the best because I laughed as much as any of the others, but I also teared up multiple times and actually cried when Ilderim Khan died.

Alakamassa17 Jan 2026 8:03 a.m. PST

Flashman's Lady

arthur181518 Jan 2026 3:25 a.m. PST

I think I agree that Flashman in the Great Game is the best.

Oberlindes Sol LIC Supporting Member of TMP18 Jan 2026 10:16 a.m. PST

Somehow I haven't actually gotten around to reading all of them, despite having started more than 50 years ago.

I'll be voting "all of the above", and maybe "this is ridiculous", in the eventual poll.

dragon6 Supporting Member of TMP19 Jan 2026 4:58 p.m. PST

I don't recall these stories :-(

Perhaps Flashman and the Tiger but I don't really remember it

"The Road to Charing Cross" 1878 Berlin, 1883-1884 Europe
"Flashman and the Tiger" 1879 Africa, Britain
"The Subtleties of Baccarat 1890 & 1891 Britain

Where would I find these others?

Personal logo Flashman14 Supporting Member of TMP19 Jan 2026 5:54 p.m. PST

Those are the three stories included in Flashman & the Tiger.

link

JohnTex926 Jan 2026 3:20 a.m. PST

"Flashman and the Great Game" is by far my favorite Flashy book.
It is also often cited by historians as quite accurate

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