Customer Reviews
Flashman conquers China - By: Didier, 21 Mar 2007 
No sensein wasting any of your time: this is yet another great bookin the incomparable Flashman-series.
Flashman, with his new knighthood & V.C., is idling away the timein Hong Kong before sailing for home, & damned if he doesn't get caught up with a woman! Before he (or you) are fully aware he's upriver smuggling guns, being caught by pirates & Taiping rebels, commandereed by Lord Elgin to accompany him to Peking, captured by the Imperial army, & sequestered by the Imperial Concubine as private barbarian pet... Allin a day's work for Flashy ;-)
Having re-read the reviews I wrote on all previous Flashman-novels I should add (as I omitted perhapsin those) that, apart from the countless hilarious scenes, there are times when Flashman is dead serious (I'm thinking for instance of the final chapter where he discusses the destruction of the Summer Palace) & allin all this makes for a very entertaining read.
An informative read as well, because MacDonald Fraser not only has the historical facts correct, but knows how to make you want to know more about the particular place & time of Flashman's adventures, & thatin itself is surely a good thing.
The only thing I regret is that there's now only one Flashman-novel left for me to read, because they must all surely rank amongst the finest historical novels one could wish for.
The Empire Cometh - By: , 30 Jun 2005 Only one country to date can say that they have placed & held military troops within the forbidden city, & that is the British.
This is probably the best bookin the Flashman series, that provides all the winning attributes of Flashman & his adventures.
The history providedin this volume (packet) was new to me, & the lengths that the British went to, to prove their military might during the 19th century is clearly displayed.
There was a pointin Chinese history where their amazing invention for war machines, finally got superceeded by the rest of the world. Flashman moves through the Opium filled Asian country to his final destination.
For anybody that has looked into the female emperors of China, this book provides a funny view into the life of these people.
Definate read for anybody that enjoys good humour.
Flash Harry at his best - By: , 08 Jun 2003 One of the best of the series, Flashman & the Dragon combines the usual sublime writing with a particularly fascinating, & not too-well known, military campaign. If you want to learn something new about Victorian history without realising you are making the effort there is no better way.
Highly recommended, & if you liked any of the other Flashman's you will be safe buying this book
This time Flashman goes to China! Hurrah! - By: , 26 Oct 2000 
Yes, once again Flashy finds himselfin the thick of things - a Chinese Civil War! GMF combines well-researched historical fact - stranger than a lot of fiction - with the tale of the ever-reluctant Colonel Flashman, who beds & connives his way through the Imperial & rebel courts & battlefields of Chinain 1860. From the very first sentence, when Flashman warns the reader that the time to beware of a pretty woman is not when you're flush, but broke - because what is she after, then? - you just know he is ging to be cajoled/ordered/kidnapped into another daring adventure... & you're not disappointed. Buy this book - & the whole series, if you can!
History is perfect, but not Flashman at his best - By: stilicho.vandal@virginnet.co.uk, 15 Oct 2000 As a brief synopsis of the European experiencein China, this is perfect. Mr MacDonald Fraser has clearly got a penchant for the 'Orient' & lavishes his time & trouble on what,in all honesty, is a pretty insignificant episode for the European powers. The attention to detail is impressive even for the Flashman Papers.
But, therein lies the trouble. Mr MacDonald Fraser is clearly so concerned to encapsulate a truly extraordinary slice of history of 'east meets west' that he foolishly ignores his great creation who, for the most part, appears to be an observerin what unfolds before him.
This is still a wonderful book. But it simply cannot compare with the earlier 'papers' & a first time 'Flasher' would do much better with the earlier stuff.
