The real history behind Flashman

[Keith]

One of my areas of interest in grad school was British Imperial History. For anyone interested in the actual history depicted in the Flashman books, I recommend the following for both their readability and accuracy:
Beyond the Khyber Pass: The Road to British Disaster in the First Afghan War
Retreat from Kabul: The Catastrophic British Defeat in Afghanistan, 1842
The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia
Tournament of Shadows: The Great Game & the Race for Empire in Central Asia
Soldier Sahibs
Queen Victoria's Little Wars
Victoria's Wars: The Rise of Empire
Hell Riders: The Truth about the Charge of the Light Brigade
The Man Who Would Be King: The First American in Afghanistan
Our Bones Are Scattered: The Cawnpore Massacres and The Indian Mutiny Of 1857
The Great Mutiny: India 1857

[[deleted user]]

Thanks for the list....I did my graduate work in history, but focused on early European history and missed much of the 'Flashman era' altogether. I have The Great Game I've been meaning to start, but will keep my eyes out for the others you list!

[Adrian (magicrat)]

Thanks for these Keith.

[Kenny]

Mr. Thompson, I read your book Scoundrel and was very impressed. I noticed it was being touted as "an American Flashman". I've never read any of the Flashmans but intend to on your recommendation. Should I read any of these books first? (I really don't know much about British history.)

[Claire]

You will after you have read Flashman!

[Keith]

Kenny, as Claire states, George MacDonald Fraser merged the real history into his stories so well that the books are both educational and excellent entertainment even if you know nothing about the events on which the stories are based. That said, I find it always enhances my enjoyment if I know something of the true history beforehand. I would therefore recommend either Farwell's "Queen Victoria's Little Wars" or Saul David's "Victoria's Wars", which generally cover the historical events of each Flashman novel in one succinct chapter. Hope this helps, and thank you for your kind review of my novel. If you liked it, I'm confident you'll like Flashman.

[Brendon]

Saul David's "Victoria's Wars" is great fun for fans of Flashman... you can help but expect Flashy to get a mention in David's dispatches. I 've just joined this group - I was looking for a list of non -fiction reading to go with the Flashman novels and Keith's list above is going to be my reading guide for the next few months... cheers sir!

[Stuart]

Mr Thompson,
It's a delight to meet up with you on Goodreads having just finished reading "Scoundrel". I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the series continuing.
I'm particularly interested in the period because a 3xgreat-grand uncle was a close friend of William Franklin (son of Benjamin Franklin) during William's exile in London. My uncle, Arthur Langford Cooke, was mentioned in William's will.
My uncle was also close friends with, and a distant cousin to, an Edward Litton who was an officer in the British army and wounded at the Battle of Bunker's Hill.
Your writing, like that of GMF, brings the period to vivid life.
Beast regards,
Stuart

[Keith]

Stuart,
Thank you for your kind words about my novel. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've had quite a few British readers write me to say how pleased they were to find a book about the American Revolution that gave their side a fair shake. I suppose it's something of an indictment of the U.S. school system that British and Canadian readers often know more about the true events of the Revolution than most Americans.
Regards,
Keith Thompson

[Stuart]

Keith,
It seems to prove the view that the victor writes the history...
Having said that though, from what I know of the political and economic climate that led to the revolution, I believe it was totally justified. The revolution was audacious and brave which I was reminded of in your book in your description of the soldiers who under-manned, under-fed, under-clothed, under-armed slogged for hellish distances then stood to fight against the finest army in the world.
And won.
The result is the greatest country in the world today.
I can understand the schools (if not forgiving the historians) delighting in the underdog defeating the British bulldog, but in a free society, even history is a discussion open to debate. Your work is a hugely valuable voice in that discussion -- as strong a voice as GMF and Patrick O'Brien in putting history in a human context without fear or favour.
The victor might not have the final word after all.
For that I salute you.