Flashman on TV? (1 Viewer)

[Molloy]

For the Heid, etc., not sure if you guys have come across this already, but if not:

http://www.celticfilms.co.uk/

Have a look at the "Projects in Development" section. No certainty it'll actually come to full fruition, but could be quite interesting. To my shame, I've yet to read any of the Flashy adventures, but I've heard nothing but universal praise, so this could be a nice way to ease myself in!

The production company is the same one behind the most recent Sharpe film, so it arguably has somewhat of a pedigree in this sort of thing. According to Wikipedia, James Purefoy (Mark Antony in Rome) is being touted as a possible lead.

Cheers,

Molloy.

 

[jazzeum]

This should get Harry's heart racing

 

[Louis Badolato]

It certainly has my heart racing! I hope its on cable TV so it can be TVMA!

 

[Harrytheheid]

This should get Harry's heart racing

My heartrate will depend on who they pick as Flashy's leading ladies..... That Eva What's-her-name out of Desperate Housewives whon Rob has such a fine regard for might make a good Elspeth.
Great news. I'll follow the link when I get time later today.

Cheers
H

 

[Harrytheheid]

For the Heid, etc., not sure if you guys have come across this already, but if not:

http://www.celticfilms.co.uk/

Have a look at the "Projects in Development" section. No certainty it'll actually come to full fruition, but could be quite interesting. To my shame, I've yet to read any of the Flashy adventures, but I've heard nothing but universal praise, so this could be a nice way to ease myself in!

The production company is the same one behind the most recent Sharpe film, so it arguably has somewhat of a pedigree in this sort of thing. According to Wikipedia, James Purefoy (Mark Antony in Rome) is being touted as a possible lead.

Cheers,

Molloy.

I've yet to read any of the Flashy adventures

For Shame Molloy....B'Gad..!!
They're all brilliant and for those who don't know them, I've lifted the following straight out of Wikipedia;

Flashman (1969) — the First Anglo-Afghan War, 1839–1842 - Retreat from Kabul, Last Stand at Gandamak and Siege of Jalalabad.

Royal Flash (1970) — a pastiche of Anthony Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda set during the European Revolutions of 1848. The story features Lola Montez and Otto von Bismarck as major characters, and fictionalizes elements of the Schleswig-Holstein Question, 1843, 1847 and 1848.

Flash for Freedom! (1971) — the pre-Civil War slave trade and the Underground Railroad in the United States, 1848 and 1849.

Flashman at the Charge (1973) — the Crimean War's Charge of the Light Brigade and Tuva, 1854.

Flashman in the Great Game (1975) — the Indian Mutiny, the Rani of Jhansi, Lord Palmerston, Thomas Henry Kavanagh 1856–1858. At times, Flashman behaves heroically in this novel and is awarded the Victoria Cross and a Knighthood but the publishing of Tom Brown's Schooldays enrages and humiliates him although the ultimate effects of the novel on his reputation are small.

Flashman's Lady (1977) — Bumps into Tom Brown again; scores the first "hat trick" in Cricket 1843, meets James Brooke in Borneo and Queen Ranavalona I of Madagascar 1843–1845. Parts are written as if drawn from the writings of his wife, Elspeth Rennie Morrison Flashman, and edited by her slightly puritanical and much offended sister, Grizel Morrison de Rothschild.

Flashman and the Redskins (1982) — the American West: the Forty-niners 1849–1850, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn, 1875–1876.

Flashman and the Dragon (1985) — China, Second Opium War and Taiping Rebellion, 1860. My personal favourite, for obvious reasons).

Flashman and the Mountain of Light (1990) — India: the First Anglo-Sikh War, 1845 and 1846. Capture of the Koh-i-Noor diamond.

Flashman and the Angel of the Lord (1994) — United States: John Brown and the Harper's Ferry Raid, 1858 and 1859.

Flashman and the Tiger (1999) incorporating:
The Road to Charing Cross — the Congress of Berlin and the Emperor Franz Josef, 1877–1878.
The Subtleties of Baccarat — the Royal Baccarat Scandal, 1890 and 1891.
Flashman and the Tiger — The defence of Rorke's Drift, 1879 and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short story The Adventure of the Empty House 1894. Flashman meets the villainous Colonel Sebastian "Tiger Jack" Moran.

Flashman on the March (2005) — Escape from Mexico at the end of the French occupation, invasion of Abyssinia, 1868 and rescue of British hostages.

I wouldn't recommend these books to anyone under 16, or those who are easily offended though.
But what a great intro to (a sort of...) history; which can lead to a lifetime of interest in "Victorias Little Wars" and other conflicts of the times.

Cheers
H

 

[Molloy]

I've yet to read any of the Flashy adventures

For Shame Molloy....B'Gad..!!
They're all brilliant and for those who don't know them, I've lifted the following straight out of Wikipedia;

Flashman (1969) — the First Anglo-Afghan War, 1839–1842 - Retreat from Kabul, Last Stand at Gandamak and Siege of Jalalabad.

Royal Flash (1970) — a pastiche of Anthony Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda set during the European Revolutions of 1848. The story features Lola Montez and Otto von Bismarck as major characters, and fictionalizes elements of the Schleswig-Holstein Question, 1843, 1847 and 1848.

Flash for Freedom! (1971) — the pre-Civil War slave trade and the Underground Railroad in the United States, 1848 and 1849.

Flashman at the Charge (1973) — the Crimean War's Charge of the Light Brigade and Tuva, 1854.

Flashman in the Great Game (1975) — the Indian Mutiny, the Rani of Jhansi, Lord Palmerston, Thomas Henry Kavanagh 1856–1858. At times, Flashman behaves heroically in this novel and is awarded the Victoria Cross and a Knighthood but the publishing of Tom Brown's Schooldays enrages and humiliates him although the ultimate effects of the novel on his reputation are small.

Flashman's Lady (1977) — Bumps into Tom Brown again; scores the first "hat trick" in Cricket 1843, meets James Brooke in Borneo and Queen Ranavalona I of Madagascar 1843–1845. Parts are written as if drawn from the writings of his wife, Elspeth Rennie Morrison Flashman, and edited by her slightly puritanical and much offended sister, Grizel Morrison de Rothschild.

Flashman and the Redskins (1982) — the American West: the Forty-niners 1849–1850, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn, 1875–1876.

Flashman and the Dragon (1985) — China, Second Opium War and Taiping Rebellion, 1860. My personal favourite, for obvious reasons).

Flashman and the Mountain of Light (1990) — India: the First Anglo-Sikh War, 1845 and 1846. Capture of the Koh-i-Noor diamond.

Flashman and the Angel of the Lord (1994) — United States: John Brown and the Harper's Ferry Raid, 1858 and 1859.

Flashman and the Tiger (1999) incorporating:
The Road to Charing Cross — the Congress of Berlin and the Emperor Franz Josef, 1877–1878.
The Subtleties of Baccarat — the Royal Baccarat Scandal, 1890 and 1891.
Flashman and the Tiger — The defence of Rorke's Drift, 1879 and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short story The Adventure of the Empty House 1894. Flashman meets the villainous Colonel Sebastian "Tiger Jack" Moran.

Flashman on the March (2005) — Escape from Mexico at the end of the French occupation, invasion of Abyssinia, 1868 and rescue of British hostages.

I wouldn't recommend these books to anyone under 16, or those who are easily offended though.
But what a great intro to (a sort of...) history; which can lead to a lifetime of interest in "Victorias Little Wars" and other conflicts of the times.

Cheers
H

I know, H, I know, it's disgraceful!

Unfortunately, I've upcoming college exams, so my time for reading anything other than course texts is limited at the moment, but as soon as I get them out of the way and get the summer started properly, Mr. Fraser's works are top of the agenda ! Is it worth beginnning in chronological order, or are they the kind of books you can just take individually??

Cheers,

Molloy.

 

[Spitfrnd]

My heartrate will depend on who they pick as Flashy's leading ladies..... That Eva What's-her-name out of Desperate Housewives whon Rob has such a fine regard for might make a good Elspeth....H

That would be Longoria (Parker)
http://longoria.photosa.net/img/Eva-Longoria-1b.jpg
That would certainly boost the ratings but I would go with Eva Green
http://www.scifiunited.com/Gallery_Images/1189304521/gallery_131_7009.jpg

 

[Harrytheheid]

I know, H, I know, it's disgraceful!

Unfortunately, I've upcoming college exams, so my time for reading anything other than course texts is limited at the moment, but as soon as I get them out of the way and get the summer started properly, Mr. Fraser's works are top of the agenda ! Is it worth beginnning in chronological order, or are they the kind of books you can just take individually??

Cheers,

Molloy.

When I first read them it was as they were released, which wasn't in chronological order, but each book is a self-contained adventure, so you can jump in with any volume.
Sheesh.....are you in for some amount of fun this summer reading these for the first time - i'm almost jealous.....

Cheers
H

 

[Molloy]

When I first read them it was as they were released, which wasn't in chronological order, but each book is a self-contained adventure, so you can jump in with any volume.
Sheesh.....are you in for some amount of fun this summer reading these for the first time - i'm almost jealous.....

Cheers
H

Excellent - sounds great, cheers mate! It looks like I may be accompanying the lady love and some of her friends to Greece for a while in July, so I reckon a couple of the Flashman books in my bag should be sufficient to get me through those long days on the beach!

Cheers,

Molloy

 

[Molloy]

Just thought I'd update you, H - the girlfriend was kind enough to pre-empt my summer plans and present me with Flashman on the March for my birthday during the week - I have to say it's an undisputed two thumbs up from me based on what I've read so far!

Absolutely hilarious stuff; it manages to present a very competent and understandable summary of the historical background to the story while remaining endearingly funny and mock-offensive throughout. Already (and I'm less than a hundred pages in at this stage) GMF, through Flashy, has manged to insult just about every race and persuasion under the sun - there's one brilliant line about the propensity of Irish redcoats to loot: "...keep an eye down on the dollars, or Paddy'll be over the hedge with his pockets jinglin', what?". You have to laugh!

Anyway, very enjoyable, I'll definitely be delving further into this series!

Cheers for the recommendation,

Molloy.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Molloy,

I love the whole series, but Flashman on the March was actually one of the 4 or 5 weakest of the set. I think you will enjoy reading the original Flashman, Flashman at the Charge, Flashman's Lady, Flashman in the Great Game, Flashman and the Dragon and Flashman and the Mountain of Light much more.

 

[Harrytheheid]

Just thought I'd update you, H - the girlfriend was kind enough to pre-empt my summer plans and present me with Flashman on the March for my birthday during the week - I have to say it's an undisputed two thumbs up from me based on what I've read so far!

Absolutely hilarious stuff; it manages to present a very competent and understandable summary of the historical background to the story while remaining endearingly funny and mock-offensive throughout. Already (and I'm less than a hundred pages in at this stage) GMF, through Flashy, has manged to insult just about every race and persuasion under the sun - there's one brilliant line about the propensity of Irish redcoats to loot: "...keep an eye down on the dollars, or Paddy'll be over the hedge with his pockets jinglin', what?". You have to laugh!

Anyway, very enjoyable, I'll definitely be delving further into this series!

Cheers for the recommendation,

Molloy.

Molloy,
You've hit that nail squarely on the head. It's mock-offensiveness.
Mind you, I'd love to be able to insult just about every race and persuasion under the sun the way GMF did....

I kinda go along with Louis's choices as the best reads - but they're all brilliant.

Cheers
H

 

[jazzeum]

I finished the Mountain of Light a few weeks ago: very enjoyable and I learned a lot about a period I knew little about. As soon as I finish what I'm reading, I'm going to start Flashy at the Charge.

 

[Molloy]

Well I'm delighted with what I've read so far, so if you guys are telling me that some of the other novels in the series are even better, then it's nothing but good news for me!

Would I be right in assuming that Flashman on the March was the very last entry in the series before the death of George McDonald Fraser??

Molloy.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Well I'm delighted with what I've read so far, so if you guys are telling me that some of the other novels in the series are even better, then it's nothing but good news for me!

Would I be right in assuming that Flashman on the March was the very last entry in the series before the death of George McDonald Fraser??

Molloy.

Yes. It and Flashman and the Tiger were the last two Flashman books, and frankly, compared to George MacDonald Fraser's earlier works, were a little weak (still great, but not as great). GMF is, along with Rudyard Kipling, one of my two favorite authors, and believe me, the earlier Flashman novels are genius! You will really enjoy them.