[.ca] Flash For Freedom (ISBN 0452256771)

One of the best of the Flashman books.:
Harry Flashman, bully, undeserving hero, and cad, is forced to leave England on the sudden after a fight over a card game. He lands on the ship of what may be Fraser's best original character, former Oxonian and classics-quoting slave ship Captain John Charity Spring. When the ship is captured in the Gulf of Mexico after doing a slave run, Flashy changes sides with his usual elan, and is brought to America as a minor hero. He soon finds himself facing an uncommonly bright young Congressman from Illinois, one of the few people ever to see through Flashy, who will meet him again during (the as-yet-unpublished, alas) Flashy's Civil War experiences. A delight, as we get to watch Flashy rogue his way through stunning dangers, as Fraser gives us detailed pictures of the 19th century slave trade, the South, and the Underground Railroad. Extensively footnoted, as usual Flashman is a much loved character, and we can understand why as he displays (though never admitting to himself) more courage in the interest of keeping his skin whole than most heroes display in defense of their country. Read them. Read them all.

Hilarious:
Harry Flashman is Horatio Hornblower without a conscience and afraid of the water. Great series.

Flashy gets to be a slaver, abolitionist, and then a slave!:
Harry Flashman, England's most irrepressible scoundrel, is back for more international adventures. Flashman meets all the greats in this superb historical novel from the future British Prime Minister Disraeli to the future American President Lincoln. Fraser makes things consistent, I'll give him that. Flashman is still looking out for, well Flashman, but somehow he ends up winning accolades for committing criminal acts that seem to somehow get misinterpreted. Not that Flashman minds or cares mind you. The novel centers around the issue of slavery during the mid-19th century before the American Civil War. Flash for Freedom is another example of historical story-telling that is packed with real events. Losing his chance at a political career, Flashman is forced to join a ship of slavers headed for West Africa. Flash makes eyes at an alluring Amazon there and then finally ends up in New Orleans. Posing as a dead naval officer, Flashman manages to lie and cheat his way across the country with nothing on his mind except vengeance against his miserly father-in-law and getting into the pants of every half-way decent woman he encounters. Filled with twists and turns, you'd think ol' Flashy was done for except for the fact that he is writing this posthumously sometime in the future when he has become an aged Flashman. This book has it all with lots of adventure, romance (well sex anyway), intrigue, humor, drama, and much more. Highly recommended for those interested in history or those who just want to read the adventures of a lousy no-good scumbag who somehow manages to get us to root for him!

Flashman comes to America:
Fraser has created another excellent Flashman adventure. The first half (or so) of the book concerns how Flashman ends up serving unwillingly in the crew of a slaving ship (after running afoul of his despicable father-in-law). The second half of the book - a bit weaker than the strong first half, I think - involves Flashman's exploits in the American South after he gets dragooned into helping the Underground Railroad. Flashman encounters a soon-to-be retiring Congressman Lincoln a couple of times during the course of the novel, and these scenes should be fun for fans of Abe. The plot is strong, the pacing very fast, as we've come to expect from Flashman, and the dialogue is lots of fun. Fraser's historical accuracy is as good as ever. This is the third Flashman book I've read, and it's almost as good as the first book in the series ("Flashman"), which I liked quite a lot, and it's considerably better than "Royal Flash," the second book in the series. I'd recommend "Flash for Freedom" to anyone who's enjoyed the series so far. As with other Flashman books, if you're easily offended by bawdy - though not obscene by any stretch - language or activities, you should take a pass on this one.

Flashman and the Gates of Heaven:
Well who would have thought it, I actually made it to Heaven. They let me in on a technicality, I believe. It seems I passed the test for honesty and truthfulness. All right, only to myself, but that's a lot better than the pious hypocrites back on Earth who praise the Lord on Sundays and blast the Heathen every which way till Fridays. Not that all is well, mind. The chap who said you go to Hell for the company knew what he was talking about. This place is as full of bores as the Lords before Reform. Not only bores, but some of my old sparring partners have turned up, or rather, were waiting at the gates for me with heavenly knuckle dusters. Sergeant Hudsen, for one. You'll remember him. He was the brave idiot who killed the four Ghastlies, as I call 'em, back in Afghanistan. And Scud East, though he, of course, has forgiven me. Oh well, I guess I must make do as usual. At least there are no blasted Bishops.