The Complete McAuslan: a review

[Kid Cossack]

I have been reading George MacDonald Fraser books for fifteen or twenty years, at least, starting with the Flashman books. I have just finished The Complete McAuslan, and am completely happy with the experience.

My military service was brief and undistinguished (four years faithful and honorable in the USMC mustering out as a corporal) and during peacetime . . . but some things are forever, and I'd wager that anyone who's worn the uniform will feel the rythm of the stories ring true.

Fraser appears as a thinly disguised Lt. Dand McNeill, and I've no idea who the "tartan Caliban" was modeled on---but I remember some laddies from my platoons who could have served. Why, there was M------, who ironed his face one day, and J----- who painted the anchors at the Navy barracks red and gold on 10 November, and F---- who ran off with four M16A2 service rifles that the Air Force security police left sitting at their table when they went to get chow, and Master Gunnery Sergeant K------ who was as majestic, ruthless and paternal as the RSM in Fraser's book.

If you've been there, you'll know it, you'll feel it, the tyrannies and the family spirit of a cohesive military unit at its best, the drudgery and excitement, the "mandatory fun evolutions" and all that.

As Dickens said in a different context, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . . and I'll put Fraser up against Dickens any day, and give odds. Fraser knows his stuff, he knows how to treat the important things seriously and turn an eye from the unimportant things.

It's a rollicking good read. My only gripe is that I'm done with it now, and will have to wait a while before jumping back in. I'll be sending it off to my (blood) brother Jared, no direct kin mind you, but blood brother all the same, who's wearing SSgt stripes in Iraq now. I know he'll feel the trueness of it.

Gents it is way early yet, but I've poured a wee dram, and lift it now to the 2d Bn, Gordon Highlanders. "Ninety-twa----no deid yet!"

[macwilkin]

I have been reading George MacDonald Fraser books for fifteen or twenty years, at least, starting with the Flashman books. I have just finished The Complete McAuslan, and am completely happy with the experience.

My military service was brief and undistinguished (four years faithful and honorable in the USMC mustering out as a corporal) and during peacetime . . . but some things are forever, and I'd wager that anyone who's worn the uniform will feel the rythm of the stories ring true.

Fraser appears as a thinly disguised Lt. Dand McNeill, and I've no idea who the "tartan Caliban" was modeled on---but I remember some laddies from my platoons who could have served. Why, there was M------, who ironed his face one day, and J----- who painted the anchors at the Navy barracks red and gold on 10 November, and F---- who ran off with four M16A2 service rifles that the Air Force security police left sitting at their table when they went to get chow, and Master Gunnery Sergeant K------ who was as majestic, ruthless and paternal as the RSM in Fraser's book.

If you've been there, you'll know it, you'll feel it, the tyrannies and the family spirit of a cohesive military unit at its best, the drudgery and excitement, the "mandatory fun evolutions" and all that.

As Dickens said in a different context, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . . and I'll put Fraser up against Dickens any day, and give odds. Fraser knows his stuff, he knows how to treat the important things seriously and turn an eye from the unimportant things.

It's a rollicking good read. My only gripe is that I'm done with it now, and will have to wait a while before jumping back in. I'll be sending it off to my (blood) brother Jared, no direct kin mind you, but blood brother all the same, who's wearing SSgt stripes in Iraq now. I know he'll feel the trueness of it.

Gents it is way early yet, but I've poured a wee dram, and lift it now to the 2d Bn, Gordon Highlanders. "Ninety-twa----no deid yet!"

Now you can tackle the "prequel" of sorts: "Quartered Safe out Here", which is GMF's autobigraphical account of his service with the Border Regiment in Burma. It and Scott Gilmore's "A Connecticut Yankee in the 8th Gurkha Rifles" were "eye-openers" to me to what my grandfather went through in the CBI theatre of WWII.

GMF is one of the greatest writers ever, in my book. His prose is amazing.

T.

[Kid Cossack]

Thankee Tod! Both "Quartered Safe" and "A Connecticut Yankee" have been ordered from Amazon since I read your post.

[macwilkin]

Thankee Tod! Both "Quartered Safe" and "A Connecticut Yankee" have been ordered from Amazon since I read your post.

I'll be awaiting your report.

Both are great reads, but "A CT Yankee..." is one of the best WWII books I have read. Gilmore served in the American Field Service in North Africa before joining the Indian Army, so the book has the feel of an Indiana Jones movie at times!

T.

[wgority]

Fraser's McAuslan tales have long been friends of mine. Whenever I travel, I take along one volume or another (although now, it's usually the omnibus edition) to make life more pleasant in a hotel room or on a plane. This ahs been my pattern since 1987. I was lucky enough to find Fraser during my last year in high school and have devoured pretty much anything he has ever written (Yes, even "Candlemass Road" and "Mr. American").

If you ever need a good mood lifter, read "The Pyrates". "The Steel Bonnets" is one of my favourite histories.

Bill

[Mr. MacDougall]

I'll have to pick those up. Being a sailor, I've long been fond of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester; recently, my uncle has introduced me to the joy of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe's novels. (And the spectacular series staring Sean Bean).

[Seaforth Piper]

I too have been reading (and re-reading) GMF for years....what strikes me now is the love of his subject that shines through his writing.

you've mentioned "Quartered safe out here" - you should read "The Steel Bonnets; a History of the Anglo-Scottish Border Reivers" and 'The Candlemass Road", and THEN read 'Quartered S.O.H'.

I refer to these 3 as GMF's "Border Trilogy": the first is an academic examination of the history of the Borders, the second is a fiction based on the research presented in the first, but written in GMF's inimitable style (that makes 'fiction' more real than a mere summary of facts) and the third shows that the reiver birthright flourishes yet, and also gives us an insight as to where GMF found his characters that later walk the stage he sets in the 'Flashman' series.

[Kid Cossack]

Well, I've ripped through Quartered Safe Out Here. Given the recent commentary regarding the movie 300, I found it interesting that Fraser related that the 14th Army was the most ethnically diverse since Xerxes. Good stuff, that, all the way through. From his writing, you get a good feel for not only the peacetime Army (more McAuslan's line) but the wartime Army, and not the 'top down' view but that of the grunt on the ground. Still waiting delivery of A Connecticut Yankee . . .

I've made scant progress with The Steel Bonnets, and I'm sure its my fault. Probably as a distant descendant of the Isles I didn't receive quite the attention to British history that I ought have. The very newness of it all makes for slow slogging. (And how many Jock Armstrongs WERE there, anyway?)

Definitely going to have to pick up The Candlemass Road in the most immediate!

[macwilkin]

Well, I've ripped through Quartered Safe Out Here. Given the recent commentary regarding the movie 300, I found it interesting that Fraser related that the 14th Army was the most ethnically diverse since Xerxes. Good stuff, that, all the way through. From his writing, you get a good feel for not only the peacetime Army (more McAuslan's line) but the wartime Army, and not the 'top down' view but that of the grunt on the ground. Still waiting delivery of A Connecticut Yankee . . .

I've made scant progress with The Steel Bonnets, and I'm sure its my fault. Probably as a distant descendant of the Isles I didn't receive quite the attention to British history that I ought have. The very newness of it all makes for slow slogging. (And how many Jock Armstrongs WERE there, anyway?)

Definitely going to have to pick up The Candlemass Road in the most immediate!

So you've "met" Grandarse then, eh?

The Burma campaign, and the whole blasted China-Burma-India Theatre of WWII doesn't get the attention it deserves, INMHO.

Happy Reading!

Todd*

*grandson of a CBI-er.