Private McAuslan (1 Viewer)

[cantinetozzo]

Two of my favourite books of all time are "The complete McAuslan" and "Quartered safe out here" by the great (and sadly deceased) George MacDonald Fraser. The first tells the story of a young officer interacting with many other characters of military life in an unnamed highland regiment in the aftermath of WWII. It is a collection of books, you can find them separately or in one book as here. The McAuslan of the title is one of the main characters, he is an undisciplined neanderthal guy , always breaking every kind of military law and code, always unfit for parade and service, a disgrace for the british army. George MacDonald Fraser tells his own experience (he was a young officer in the Gordon Highlanders) and describes real characters in this book, obviously not naming them. It's really fun to read , and you'll love even the highland slang in it. The second book is "Quartered safe out here". For me is one of the greatest memories of war ever written. It's honest, plain and...funny! Here the author tells of his experience fighting the japs in the great unsung epic of the pacific theatre: the 14th army in the Burma reconquest. He was posted to a Cumberland regiment (so this time the slang is obviously the Cumberland dialect) and the way he recounts the campaign is a model for all the war literature. I really wanted to homage him and his great books with a little scene portraying my private McAuslan getting jailed by the minimum of MPs required to resist him. Enjoy!

 

[Louis Badolato]

George MacDonald Fraser is one of my favorite authors, and you named my two favorite of his works. Andy Neilson worked with his daughter years ago, and had the good fortune to meet him. Andy gave me an autographed copy of one of GMF's works, which I treasure. When K&C started doing the collector's figures, one of the early ones was "Jumping Jack Flashman", an homage to GMF's most successful character, lovable rogue Harry Flashman.

 

[cantinetozzo]

George MacDonald Fraser is one of my favorite authors, and you named my two favorite of his works. Andy Neilson worked with his daughter years ago, and had the good fortune to meet him. Andy gave me an autographed copy of one of GMF's works, which I treasure. When K&C started doing the collector's figures, one of the early ones was "Jumping Jack Flashman", an homage to GMF's most successful character, lovable rogue Harry Flashman.

Thanks Louis.. i loved too the Flashman series (i have that particular figure you mention) . In the first installment of the series is also mentioned one person i am related to, the Peshawar governor Paolo Avitabile..loved the way he is presented in the book (if you have it you can check..it's really fun). I want to mention another great book that made me fall in love with the Border Reivers..GMF's " The Steel Bonnets" it's perhaps the definitive book on the raiders of the anglo scottish border. I'd like if Andy could make some figure inspirated by the McAuslan series...or the Border Reivers!!!

 

[Louis Badolato]

Thanks Louis.. i loved too the Flashman series (i have that particular figure you mention) . In the first installment of the series is also mentioned one person i am related to, the Peshawar governor Paolo Avitabile..loved the way he is presented in the book (if you have it you can check..it's really fun). I want to mention another great book that made me fall in love with the Border Reivers..GMF's " The Steel Bonnets" it's perhaps the definitive book on the raiders of the anglo scottish border. I'd like if Andy could make some figure inspirated by the McAuslan series...or the Border Reivers!!!

I remember GMF's depiction of Avitable as a humorous and lovable rogue quite well. You have a very interesting ancestor. I also enjoyed the Steel Bonnets.