Flashman and the Dragon

by George MacDonald Fraser

Overview

“Flashman strikes again… Wonderful… hilarious.”—USA Today
 
Lusting after a clergyman’s wife, smuggling opium to Hong Kong, coupling with an Amazonian woman river pirate, groveling before a ruthless warlord, and becoming the sexual plaything of the most beautiful and evil woman in the world, Harry Flashman, the supreme antihero of the Victorian era, is ready to rise to the occasion to matter what depths of dishonor he must plumb. In this uninhibited and uproarious adventure, Flashman is once again at his irascible best.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780452261914
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	07/01/1987
Series:	Flashman
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 7.94(h) x 0.88(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

George MacDonald Fraser was a bestselling historical novelist, journalist and screenwriter. He is perhaps most famous for his series of Flashman novels, featuring his antihero Harry Flashman. In addition to his novels, he wrote numerous screenplays, most notably The Three Musketeers and the James Bond film Octopussy. George MacDonald Fraser died in 2008 at the age of 82.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the Flashman series
“Hilariously funny.”—The New York Times Book Review
 
“Great dirty fun!”—Grand Rapids Press
 
“The most entertaining anti-hero in a long time… Moves from one ribald and deliciously corrupt episode to the next… Wonderful and scandalous.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“Raises dastardliness to the level of an art… One of the most amusing and sardonic novels I have ever read!”—Omaha World
 
“As irreverent and picaresque as Tom Jones and always more dramatic… Flashman is a one-man demolition squad!”—Chicago Today
 
“Marvelously entertaining… A delight!”—Providence Journal

From the Publisher

The delightful cad Flashman stalks again, now through China's 19th-century Taiping Rebellion, in this eighth and perhaps most sparkling volume of his ``memoirs.'' Though a little longer in the tooth, Colonel Flashman, V.C., has lost none of his dash, cunning, amorous propensity or cowardice. His adventures begin when he accompanies a consignment of ``opium'' (actually guns) to Canton on behalf of a British missionary. Thereafter, as Ambassador Elgin's chief intelligence officer, he gets into a succession of dire scrapes which include being attacked by pirates and falling into the hands first of the ferocious but disciplined Taipings, then of the equally ferocious but decadent Manchu imperialists. At one point he comes within a hair's breadth of having his poltroonery exposed; at other points he finds himself the sexual partner of a Chinese Amazon and, more plaything than partner, of the formidable Imperial Concubine Yi, later empress, to whose treacherous court intrigues he becomes privy. He winds up witnessing Elgin's destruction of Peking's Summer Palace, an act of vengeance described with horrifying vividness. There's a deal of shrewd observation in Flashman, and a deal of solid history in his flamboyant memoirs, factors that add weight to their dazzle. (April 4)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Scholars and acquaintances of Sir Harry Flashman, V.C., will be gratified to hear of the appearance in print of the eighth installment of his memoirsmanuscripts dealing with activities in China in the early 1860s. Fresh from the Indian Mutiny, ``Flash Harry,'' self-confessed coward, womanizer, and scoundrel, finds himself landed in ``Manchoo'' China torn by the Taiping Rebellion. A combined force of British and French troops commanded by Lord Elgin simultaneously pushes toward Peking to force Western realities on the Chinese emperor. There is plenty of action as the redoubtable Flashy scrapes through many dangerous and disagreeable situations in this chaotic setting. Emerging as usual unscathed, with public (if not private) honor intact, Sir Harry recounts his memories of the Summer Palace and the Yi Concubine (later Empress Tzu-hsi). This enjoyable romp incidentally provides a wealth of historic data. Delightful fun. William C. McCully, Park Ridge P.L., Ill.

Library Journal