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Episode Summary
It’s the 8th anniversary of The Age of Victoria Podcast! Join your host Chris Fernandez-Packham as he celebrates this milestone with a very special episode dedicated to one of the most unforgettable rogues of Victorian historical fiction—Sir Harry Flashman.
In this reflective and richly detailed episode, I explore the character of Flashman, the brilliant mind of his creator George MacDonald Fraser, and how the Flashman Papers have become an unconventional yet insightful lens into the Victorian world.
Expect deep dives into:
- The real history behind the Flashman novels
- Fraser’s impeccable historical research and cheeky literary hoaxes
- The balance between historical truth and fiction
- Flashman’s infamous “heroism” in key Victorian conflicts like the First Anglo-Afghan War, the Charge of the Light Brigade, and the US Civil War
- A who’s-who of real Victorian figures Flashman bedded, betrayed, or bewildered
Whether you’re already a fan of Flashy or new to this bawdy, cowardly antihero, you’ll leave with a richer understanding of Victorian hypocrisy, heroism, and how luck and PR shaped the Empire’s image.
Key Topics Covered
- 📚 The Flashman Papers and their place in historical fiction
- 🧐 George MacDonald Fraser’s approach to mixing fact and satire
- ⚔️ Flashman’s accidental heroism in major Victorian conflicts
- 👑 Victorian attitudes toward Empire, honour, and race
- 🎭 Antiheroes in literature and why they matter
- 🎨 Fraser’s links to his own military past and colonial nostalgia
- 🎶 Victorian culture, music, and the role of press in myth-making
Quotable Moments
“If I had been the hero everyone thought I was, or even a half-decent soldier, Lee would have won the battle of Gettysburg…”
“Like them or not, the Victorians strode the stage of history in glorious technicolour.”
“Some of the most interesting people in history—and in fiction—are really awful in some ways.”
Further Reading & Mentions
- The Flashman Papers series by George MacDonald Fraser
- Fraser’s interview with historian Saul David
- Historical figures discussed: Lord Cardigan, Rani of Jhansi, Abraham Lincoln, Lola Montez, and more
- British colonial history and the forgotten 14th Army of Burma
- Music: “Garryowen” and its curious journey from Ireland to the US Cavalry
Join the Celebration!
Thanks to all the listeners who’ve joined the journey over the last 8 years. If you’ve found the show informative, entertaining, or just a good companion on long walks, please consider sharing it or leaving a review.
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