McAuslan in the Rough

McAuslan

by George MacDonald Fraser

McAuslan in the Rough, the second volume of George MacDonald Fraser's stories featuring "Old Private Piltdown" (as the court-martial defence called him), includes such episodes as the desert mystery of Fort Yarhuna, the Great Regimental Quiz, the search for a deserter in a native town threatened by epidemic, McAuslan in love, and his finest and funniest hour - as a caddy to that rugged Caledonian eminence, the Regimental Sergeant-Major, in a golf game whose importance makes the Open Championship look like a seaside putting competition. As his chronicler reminds "McAuslan is always with us. He was probably at Cannae and Pharsalia, and hasn't washed since. And you can bet that he'll be there, more or less at attention, with his rusty rifle and his buttons undone, when the ranks fall in for Armageddon."

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor, Short Stories, War, Military Fiction, Literature

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 1974

About the author

George MacDonald Fraser is best known for his Flashman series of historical novels, purportedly written by Harry Flashman, a fictional coward and bully originally created by Thomas Hughes in Tom Brown's School Days. The novels are presented as "packets" of memoirs written by the nonagenarian Flashman, who looks back on his days as a hero of the British Army during the 19th century. The series begins with Flashman, and is notable for the accuracy of the historical settings and praise from critics. P.G. Wodehouse said of Flashman, “If ever there was a time when I felt that ‘watcher-of-the-skies-when-a-new-planet’ stuff, it was when I read the first Flashman.”

Reviews

[Geoff Gander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of what appear to be the author's fictionalised reminiscences of his service in the British Army immediately following the Second World War, up to the point he was demobilised. It's lighthearted fare and, for those who served, it's proof that the military and its idiosyncrasies are probably the one true constant in our collective civilisation, shared by all cultures. I was never on active service, but I did know a "McAuslan" or two in Basic Training and during regular duty at my reserve regiment, in the 90s. Every regiment seems to have "that one person" who is disheveled, fumbles everything, and is basically a walking example of how *not* to be a soldier.. but at the same time they're actually not a bad person for all that and you (if you're a decent sort) try to help them along.

The last story, in which the author expresses in one scene his conflicted feelings about being in the service and dreaming of getting out, and at the same time being reluctant to leave that unique environment, is poignant.

[Viva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to George MacDonald Fraser by the Flashman books and because GMF was close to CS Forester on library shelves.

This book is the second of 3 in the series. From reading it, it seems this was supposed to be the second of a 2 book series but the author added a 3rd book later on. The series is a fictional biographical sketch of Dand MacNeill of a Highland Regiment just after WW2. It's not stated in the book but I think it's based on the Gordons.

The books consists of short stories (not strictly chronological) of every day military life, whether on home territory or overseas. The books are comedic, light hearted but also as serious as military tradition and soldering can be.

I own all the books and I've read this series many times. They are fun to read yet you also get a sense of the great British and Highland military tradition.

[Matthew Dambro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of Fraser's books. His Flashman series and Quartered Safe Out Here are outstanding. The McAuslan trilogy is one of his best. This is the second volume. It is the story of a Highland regiment immediately after WW II. It must be fictionalized autobiography because it rings so true to military life. The pages turn themselves and you find yourself immersed in time and place. It is fall down funny and yet, in parts, the poignancy is touching.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew going in that this was nothing like Flashman, but I was a little taken aback at how tame and sitcom-ish a couple of the stories were. For maximum enjoyment, you probably need to be an ex-soldier yourself. But Fraser's a natural storyteller and carried me through the book with minimal pain and even some pleasure.

[Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another marvelous collection of short stories filled with humor and frequent insights into human nature. Fraser is masterful in this, the second of the McAuslan books. They're probably not for everyone, but I must be in the intended audience because I can't get enough of these stories.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

More interesting than entertaining. Aimed squarely at a particular demographic, time, and place - the demobilized post WWII, with tales about the army life designed more to echo harmoniously than to appeal to an inexperienced listener.

[Mike Wigal · Rating 5 out of 5]

George MacDonald Fraser is one of my favorite authors. But his musing on serving in the military on page 165-66 is worth the whole book in my opinion.

[Olly Colluphid · Rating 4 out of 5]

More sentimental than the first? Certainly the final story is. Light and enjoyable.

[Anne Matheson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny. And we learned some new words (ashplant) and about some new places ( the Marble Arch in Libya).

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second book in the series and still entertaining. Capturing the absurdities of soldier life, the author creates a fantastical set of short stories building on characters from his previous works.

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

More humorous tales about life in the Highland regiment. Still posing, in this book, as pure fiction.

One tale does indeed revolve about golf, and features McAuslan, the world's dirtiest soldiers. But we also get adventures rousting all the soldiers out of town on a smallpox scare, how they acquired their first black piper, a compeition quiz, Arabs with treasure, the way the subalterns got woken up on Friday and how that stopped, and even ending with his being mustered out. (Yes, there's a third book. Since it's just short stories, apparently temporal sequence is not a high consideration.)

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read for those who enjoy British -- actually Scotch -- humor. Setting is desert fort in north Africa just after WWI. Narrator is a young lieutenant who is plagued by a very stupid, clumsy private, McAuslan, who nonetheless has a heart of gold and admirable sense of honesty and fair play. McA gets in all kinds of funny scrapes, but there is an underlying theme of both the unfairness of life and the positive connectedness of all who serve there countries in the military.

[Sjancourtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good start to reading George MacDonald Fraser, and fall-down funny. The stories, of the Dirtiest Soldier in the Scottish Army, are semi-true and well worth spending an afternoon. Your male friends and acquaintances, particularly if they are of Scottish descent, will love you forever if you give them this book.

[ValeriZentsov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes of Flashman, but less 'funny' and more fun. Good-natured and sympathetic humour, with a subtle lesson dropped in here and there. Good value.

[Peter Staadecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my money: the best natural story teller I've come across - not in the Flashman series - but here in the McAuslan series. Effortless story telling by a master.