Flashman on the March facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | George MacDonald Fraser |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical novel |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
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Publication date
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2005 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 320 pp (paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-00-719740-3 |
| OCLC | 62264997 |
| Preceded by | Flashman and the Tiger |
Flashman on the March is an exciting adventure novel from 2005, written by George MacDonald Fraser. It's the twelfth and final book in the popular Flashman series.
Contents
About the Flashman Papers
Just like all the other Flashman novels by George MacDonald Fraser, this story is presented as if it's part of the "Flashman Papers." These are supposedly secret writings by Sir Harry Flashman himself. He's a famous (or infamous!) character from the classic book Tom Brown's School Days. Each book begins with a note explaining how these old papers were supposedly found.
This adventure takes place between 1867 and 1868. It starts in Trieste, a city in Italy, soon after Flashman finished his service with Emperor Maximilian I in Mexico. From there, Flashman travels to Abyssinia (which is now Ethiopia). He becomes involved in General Robert Napier's important expedition in 1868.
The Story's Adventure
Flashman meets an old friend, Jack Speedicut, who has appeared in other Flashman books. Jack asks Flashman to help escort a special shipment of Maria Theresa thalers (a type of silver coin) to General Robert Napier's forces in Abyssinia. They travel through Suez to get there.
General Napier is very happy to see Flashman, who is known as a brave military hero. Napier immediately sends Flashman on a secret mission. Flashman's job is to convince Queen Masteeat and her Galla people to help the British. The Galla people are against Emperor Theodore II of Ethiopia. Flashman travels with Queen Masteeat's half-sister, Uliba-Wark, who has her own plans to take over from the Queen.
Flashman successfully gets Queen Masteeat to agree to help. However, he is then captured by Emperor Theodore's soldiers.
At the end of the adventure, Flashman tells General Napier something important. He believes the British government could have avoided the whole difficult situation. He thinks they should have shown Emperor Theodore the respect he deserved as a ruler by properly replying to his letters.
Main Characters
Fictional Characters
- Harry Paget Flashman - The main character of the story. He's often called an anti-hero because he's not always good, but he's always at the center of the action.
- Jack Speedicut - An old school friend of Flashman's. He also appears in Tom Brown's Schooldays as a supporting character.
- Uliba-Wark - The half-sister of Queen Masteeat. She starts as an ally to Flashman. However, she becomes angry with him after an incident where he causes her to fall into a waterfall. She tries to get revenge and take power, but her plans are stopped when Emperor Theodore's forces attack her group.
- Yando - A chief from Abyssinia. He tries to force Uliba-Wark to marry him and treats Flashman badly. He is later captured and dealt with by Uliba-Wark's orders.
- Miriam - The leader of Emperor Theodore's special group of female warriors, sometimes called Amazons. She is accidentally harmed during a battle.
Historical Figures
- Wilhelm von Tegetthoff - An important Austrian admiral.
- Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala - The British General leading the expedition.
- Captain Speedy - A British soldier and explorer from the Victorian era.
- Emperor Theodore II of Ethiopia - The ruler of Ethiopia during this time.
- Queen Masteeat - A real queen who played a role in the events.
- G. A. Henty - A well-known writer.
- Henry Morton Stanley - A famous explorer and journalist.
