Not quite as good as the Harry Flashman series

The original Flashman series was nothing short of superb, and you really got the sense that the author had spent at least as much time plowing through historically significant documents and determining what might have happened. The series was about the easiest possible way to absorb English political history that I can think of. It was not politically correct at all, Harry spoke as a Victorian Englishman would.

I can't rate that series highly enough, and, while the actor who read the books had a bit of a thick accent, it was authentic, or so I, as an American, believed.

I said all that to say this: This series is good, but not as good. You get the sense that Brightwell worked just as hard as Frasier did in his historical research, but I kept thinking that it just was not a person speaking in an authentic voice, but a person speaking through the politically correctness filter of the late 20th and 21st century. This impacted my enjoyment of both the story and the performance.

But, I am a Flashman addict, and I don't see as well as I used to, so I am dependent on audiobooks. And these were not unenjoyable, I just enjoyed the Frasier books more. But we will see no more from Frasier.

So, if you are a Flashman addict, you will probably want to read or listen to these books. If you are not, then it depends on how you feel about political correctness. If the "N" word offends you such that you can't read "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" then this is the series for you. If not, start with the Frasier series.

10 people found this helpful

Better title:"Falshman's uncle watches paint dry

so, a side from some moderately interesting historical facts this book has nothing to offer. read a history of the war and naval engagements of this period. it would be more entertaining.

the characters were not engaging at all. dull, without depth, and really without charm. I loved Sir Harry Flashman because he was a charming rogue. this character hardly meets either standard.

2 people found this helpful

Not a Flashman book in any sense

Got most of the way through this one and realized, it's dull and I'm really not learning anything either. Let's face it, it isn't possible to clone genius or wit. To execute a true pastiche of a great writer's style, is a huge talent; to combine that with an exciting and original plot line requires even great abilities. I know of no sequels or prequels by imitative writers that ever brought me any personal joy. The Bond books are labored and no fun, and just the thought of imitation Austens makes me shudder. If you're a true GMF admirer, don't even go here, you'll only be bored.

2 people found this helpful

Not Flashman

George Macdonald Fraser almost created his own genre with the Flashman novels which while opening up whole periods of 19th century English history made a virtue of political incorrectness. I really doubt he could enjoy the same popularity if he appeared newly on the oppressed and fractured literary scene today. I would expect to seem him vilified by the media and the touchy-feelie radical left. But whatever his sins against hyper-sensitivity, his novels were hilariously entertaining while historically accurate and educational. What I read of Thomas Flashman and the Seawolf fell into the latter category. I felt I was being led into an historical background but without any reason to linger there. Maybe other listeners will enjoy these novels more than I did.

4 people found this helpful

Impossible to listen to

I have been a fan of the Flashman papers for decades and was excited to see this potential continuation of a great tradition. Indeed some of the other reviews were excellent. But I could barely sit through the first hour of this nonsense without gritting my teeth in frustration and wishing I could throw the iPad at the drooling, monotonous, uninspired narrator. I have also been in love with audiobooks since they were on tape, filling many hours of manual labor and road trips all over the country with some truly excellent performances, narrators who sucked me into the book and transported me into the middle of it. This book transported me alright, to a bathroom stall in a gas station listening to the odiferous body functions of a witless stranger. That anyone actually paid this guy to narrate anything is unbelievable. That anyone else finds this performance in any way acceptable is baffling. That I spent a good credit on this garbage is infuriating. I don't know what the story is like or if the book overall is any good, if I am to judge by the discriminating taste of the publisher, I'd venture to say no. Do yourself a favor and listen to a sample first, maybe I'm just an audiobook snob. Don't listen to me.

3 people found this helpful

Great Historical Novel

George MacDonald Fraser wrote the original Flashman series about the Victorian Harry Flashman. This is a spin-off about Thomas Flashman whose career covered the Napoleonic era. The spin-off is written by Robert Brightwell. This is a historical novel. The protagonist is placed in a historical situation that includes the real people. One of the most famous was Admiral Thomas Cochrane (1789-1872) 10th Earl of DunDonald. Captain Cochrane was a daring Royal Navy officer in the Napoleonic War. Napoleon called him “Le Loup de Mers”.

Thomas Flashman is the uncle of Harry Flashman. Thomas is a spy courier and is to take forged letters to Spain to trick the Spanish Fleet to leave the Cadiz Harbor. The ship that is to take him is the HMS Speedy captained by Thomas Cochrane.

The book is well written and full of historical details. The story is full of action and suspense. Brightwell is a good storyteller and, in my opinion, he would have been better off having this book stand on its own instead of a Flashman spin-off.

The book is eight hours long. Henry Clove Harrison does a good job narrating the book. This is my first experience with Harrison as a narrator and the author Brightwell.

7 people found this helpful

Excellent continuation of Fraser's work!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Robert Brightwell seems to be channeling George MacDonald Fraser from beyond the grave. It's perhaps slightly less bawdy, and the new Thomas Flashman isn't quite the coward his nephew turned out to be (so far, anyway), but it's a spot-on spiritual successor. I can't WAIT to listen to the rest.

What other book might you compare Flashman and the Seawolf to and why?

This fits perfectly in the Fraser series, in my humble opinion.

What about Henry Clore Harrison’s performance did you like?

I miss David Case (who narrated the original series), but Harrison does a fantastic job and I was engrossed every minute of the performance.

If you could take any character from Flashman and the Seawolf out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Cochrane. What an amazing individual. I plan on ordering his autobiography today. :)

Any additional comments?

Thank you, Mr. Brightwell, for doing such a great job not just capturing Fraser and Flashman's adventures, but carrying on the expert historical research that really brings this series alive. Can't wait to read / listen to the rest. :)

3 people found this helpful

Better than his nephew

Any additional comments?

This has the great interest of good historical fiction without the extreme loutishness characteristic of George MacDonald Fraser's earlier "Flashman" novels. I can't wait for the next one to be voiced.

3 people found this helpful

Performance, not so good

This guy's accent wasn't right. I sampled this book before I bought it, but I guess I just didn't listen to it enough, I believe I could fake an upper-class English accent better and I was born in Oklahoma,

Boring

I knew it wasn’t going to be Harry Flashman redone. But I was hoping for inappropriate hijinks and a little bit of humor. At times it read like a novel not a memoir. Hoping the next book is better.