Flashman and the Zulus

Adventures of Thomas Flashman #10

by Robert Brightwell

While many people have heard of the battle at Rorke’s Drift, (featured in the film Zulu) and the one at Isandlwana that preceded it, few outside of South Africa know of an earlier and equally bloody conflict. Under a tyrannical king, the Zulu nation defended its territory with ruthless efficiency against white settlers. Only a naïve English vicar, with his family and some translators are permitted to live in the king’s capital. It is into this cleric’s household that Thomas Flashman finds himself, as a most reluctant guest. Listening to sermons of peace and tolerance against a background of executions and slaughter, Thomas is soon fleeing for his life, barely a spearpoint ahead of regiments of fearsome warriors. He is to learn that there is a fate even worse than his own death. He is pitched in with Boers and British settlers as they fight a cunning and relentless foe. Thomas strives for his own salvation, before discovering that chance has not finished with him yet.

Genres: Historical Fiction

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2020

About the author

I am a firm believer in the maxim that history is stranger than fiction. There are countless times when I have come across a character or incident that has been so hard to believe that I have had to search out other sources for confirmation. Thomas Cochrane who features in my first book is one of those, his real life adventures seem ridiculously far fetched for a fictional character. The Begum of Samru from my second book is another: a fifteen-year-old nautch dancer who gained the confidence of an army, had a man literally kill himself over her and who led her soldiers with skill and courage, before becoming something of a Catholic saint.

History is full of amazing stories and in my books I try to do my bit to tell some of them. When I thought of a vehicle to do so, the Flashman series from George MacDonald Fraser came to mind. Most of what I know of the Victorian era was prompted by his books. The concept of a fictional character witnessing and participating in real historical events, while not unique, has rarely been done better.

George MacDonald Fraser was an exceptional writer and he developed a character that he took from Tom Brown's School Days into a truly legendary figure. While Harry Flashman might not have been a typical Victorian, he certainly brought the period to life. For me, the Regency/Napoleonic era was one of even greater colour and extremes and so I have created a new earlier member of the family: Thomas Flashman.

There are similarities between the generations in that they both have the uncanny knack of finding themselves in the hotspots of their time, often while endeavouring to avoid them. Thomas though is not exactly the same character as Harry Flashman, this is partly accidental and partly deliberate.

For example, Harry Flashman makes prolific use of the 'n' word which will never appear in my work. This is not just political correctness but reflects the different times the two fictional characters occupy. While Harry Flashman in India thrashed and abused the natives; in Thomas' time many British were in business with Indian partners or had Indian wives. The British Resident of Delhi went so far as to marry a harem of thirteen Indian women who used to parade around the city every evening on elephants.

As several reviewers have pointed out Thomas is not quite the vicious villainous rogue his nephew became, at least in the first book. But the character develops more in the subsequent books with increasing levels of skulduggery. The genius of George MacDonald Fraser was to create a spiteful bully that the reader could still relate to. I have tried to convey a character that lived in his time and who balanced cowardice, pride, lust etc with the need to bring the reader with him.

For more information, check out my website, www.robertbrightwell.com

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this tenth packet of his memoirs, Thomas Flashman recounts the early years of the Boer colonization of South Africa and his adventures with them, the Zulus and his old friends in the British government. As always Flashy ends up in the middle of every dangerous event despite his best efforts to steer clear of trouble.

At the beginning of this installment Thomas is still suffering from the fallout caused by the ruinous legal problems that bedeviled him back in Britain during 1835. This situation led him and his wife to go abroad to America until things cooled off at home. There, through a convoluted series of events, he ended up as one of the few survivors of the Alamo garrison. (See Flashman at the Alamo)

Fresh from the siege at the Alamo, Thomas and his wife visit Africa. There they enjoyed the sights and endeavored to stay out of harm's way but...I'll let Flashy explain it as only Flashy can:

"I was ready to go home and asked D’Urban about getting passage on a ship to Britain. That was when he asked his favour. He explained that a while back he had been visited by a former naval captain called Gardiner, who lived in a region northeast of the colony called Natal. This man informed him that the local tribe had gifted to Britain a vast tract of land. Furthermore, the British citizens living in the main port in Natal, had just renamed their town as D’Urban in his honour. The governor had never been there and was far too engrossed in local politics to leave Cape Town then. He asked if Louisa and I could visit this town of D’Urban as his special emissaries, to thank its citizens for this singular honour. It was a hard request to refuse, especially given his hospitality.

It did not seem an onerous task: giving a couple of speeches of thanks, perhaps attending a civic dinner and then delivering D’Urban’s letter to the Boers. How wrong I was!"

What was to be a pleasant little junket became a font of terrible hardship and misadventure. Thomas, knocked unconscious after a run-in with a rogue elephant, wakes up to find a Zulu medicine man trying to pour a bowl of poison "medicine" down his throat - complements of King Dingane. Surviving this confrontation by vomiting his guts out, Flashy is anxious to return to civilization and his beloved Louisa, but finds himself a most reluctant guest in the household of a naïve English vicar, whose family and some translators are the only whites permitted to live in the Zulu capital.

Listening to sermons of peace and tolerance against a background of executions and slaughter, Thomas is soon fleeing for his life, barely a spearpoint ahead of regiments of fearsome warriors. Flashy throws in with the Boers who are trying to start a new nation on a portion of the Zulu lands. Throughout this novel Flashman fights in defense of a Boer laager, in an attack against the Zulu capital, and through a cleverly laid ambush. He sees some tragic sights, for the Zulu did not hesitate to butcher women and children.

This is a typical Flashman novel in that it is full of thrills, chill's, and daring-do. It differs from the others though in that is darker and more grim. It lacks the lighthearted humor that mark the other books in the series. Still, it is a great story and a quick and interesting read.

Highly recommended.

[John Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not about the Zulu War for 1879, which was Thomas' nephew Harry's war, but the 1837-38 war which sounded much worse for everybody.
Having been invited to South Africa with his wife Louisa by Ben D'Urban (see Flashman ay the Alamo) to inspect old cannon; Thomas finds himself stranded after an accident with a rouge elephant. . Lost and confused where he is he's pick up by a twelve year old boy, advanced in years, which brings him a small camp run by a vicar, his wife and few survivors of an attach]k by the Zulu king, who is about as evil as one can get. Taking hostages and ordering them on top of hill covered in the bones of thousand of victims.
Flashman finds no help from the Boers fighting for their lives and a few British residents. Meanwhile his wife has been separated and is running from the Zulu' who have attacked the wagon train she was with.
Being a Flashman novel, no matter who writes it, one should expect thrills, chill's, and dare-doing.
Great story that is not generally known here in the U.S.
Series is recommended. Wonder what the next adventure will be like?

[L J Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stupendous book of classic adventure. It stars Thomas Flashman, the somewhat craven uncle of Sir Harry Flashman. In this book, fresh from the siege at the Alamo, Thomas and his wife visit Africa. Thomas separates from his wife to go on a mission for the British Consulate and finds himself a captive of the Zulu people led by the murderous chief Dingaan. From this point, through terrible hardship and misadventure, Thomas joins with the Boers who are trying to start a new nation on a portion of the Zulu lands. This novel is chock full of sieges, battles and combat and is sure to please any armchair adventurer.

[Al Lock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Brightwell has clearly got tired of writing about the coward Thomas Flashman. In this book, Flashman finds himself demonstrating honor and loyalty and bravery... it's the last of the Thomas Flashman books as of this review, and I think it is likely to be kept that way. Limited historical interest as well.

[anthony heazell · Rating 5 out of 5]

History brought to life

Having seen the film ‘Zulu’ many years ago this book made the history so interesting. The hero lives every minute with you, the reader. Thankyou so much for another ‘Flashman’

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historically Accurate

I really enjoyed this book. Historically accurate. Well written and crafted. The story Illuminates a less well chronicled period. Highly recommended.

[Diana Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and interesting read about the early years of Boer colonization of South Africa and interactions with the Zulus and British.

[Roger Partridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best T Flashy yet.

Of all the Thomas Flashman books this one is my favourite because it detailed lesser known events. All of the books are great fun and left we wanting more.

[Deryk Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the best book yet, a brilliant read.

[Rogeagle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the others in the series

Read the other books. This one isn’t quite as good. 10 more: words words words words words words words words words words