Flashman's Christmas

By Robert Brightwell

This short story was included in the longer novel Flashman's Winter, so do not buy this book if you already have that one.

Flashman's Christmas is an introduction to the character of Thomas Flashman, uncle to Harry Flashman, who was made famous by Thomas Hughes and George MacDonald Fraser.

Thomas’ exploits begin in 1800 and finish in 1838 in a series of eleven novels. They include extraordinary adventures in Europe, North and South America, Africa and India, and are closely based on historical fact and contemporary sources.

Like his nephew, he has the uncanny knack of finding himself in the hotspots of his time, often while endeavouring to avoid them. Thomas, though, is not exactly the same character as Harry Flashman, which is partly accidental and partly deliberate. It 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!

This novella is set in Paris a few months after the battle of Waterloo as the royalists try to re-establish control over a country that had recently rejected them. It reunites Thomas with old friends and enemies as he is involved in a notorious escape from the death cell of a Paris prison on the eve of execution.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Brightwell
• Release date: Nov 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005848156

Robert Brightwell

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 and seventh books 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. 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. The concept of a fictional character witnessing and participating in real historical events, while not unique, has rarely been done better. I therefore decided to create an earlier, Napoleonic era, generation of the family.My Thomas Flashman character is not exactly the same as Fraser’s Harry Flashman. They both have the uncanny knack of finding themselves in the hotspots of their time. They have an eye for the ladies and self-preservation. Yet Thomas is not quite the spiteful bully his nephew became, although he does learn to serve a vicious revenge on those who serve him ill.The new ‘Assignment’ series, featuring war correspondent Thomas Harrison, introduces a fresh new character for adventures a generation later, starting in 1870. His employment ensures that he is at the heart of the action, although his goal of being an impartial observer is invariably thwarted.In both series I aim to make the books as historically accurate as possible. My fictional central character is woven into real events, so that he is fully engaged in the action, but is not allowed to alter the ultimate outcome. He is also not allowed to replace a known historical figure. But where the person is unknown or events are unexplained, he can provide the explanation. In short, I am trying to provide real history in the form of a ripping yarn!For more information, check out my website, www.robertbrightwell.com

Book preview

Flashman’s Christmas

© Robert Brightwell 2021

Robert Brightwell asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

This e-book may not be reproduced or copied except for the use of the original purchaser.

Introduction

This short story is an introduction to the character of Thomas Flashman, uncle to Harry Flashman, who was made famous by Thomas Hughes and George MacDonald Fraser. Thomas’ exploits begin in 1800 and finish in 1838 in a series of eleven books. They include extraordinary adventures in Europe, North and South America, Africa and India, and are closely based on historical fact and contemporary sources.

Like his nephew, he has the uncanny knack of finding himself in the hotspots of his time, often while endeavouring to avoid them. Thomas, though, is not exactly the same character as Harry Flashman, which is partly accidental and partly deliberate. It 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.

This book is set in Paris a few months after the battle of Waterloo as the royalists try to re-establish control over a country that had recently rejected them. It reunites Thomas with old friends and enemies as he is involved in an extraordinary escape from the death cell of a Paris prison on the eve of execution.

Chronologically, Flashman’s Christmas sits between Flashman’s Waterloo and Flashman and the Emperor. As always, if you have not already read them, the memoirs of Thomas’ more famous nephew, Harry Flashman, edited by George MacDonald Fraser, are strongly recommended.

Robert Brightwell

Chapter 1

Our worst fears were confirmed when we saw a company of soldiers forming up on the wet cobbles, stamping their feet against the early morning chill. They stood outside the Luxembourg Palace, which despite its name was in the centre of Paris. It had over the previous few days served as a courtroom and a prison. The guilty verdict had only been announced at midnight and the sentence of death had come as no surprise. The whole thing had been a sham, rigged from the start, and the prisoner did not stand a chance. I had been one of those to speak for the defence. I had helped to destroy the false testimony of the chief witness for the prosecution, a man even the Prussian, Marshal Blücher had dismissed as a ‘shit’. It did no good, for the main legal defence was ruled out as a technicality. When the defence lawyer, in desperation, tried to declare that the prisoner could not be tried for the charges as by birth he was not French, his own client overruled him. I fought as a Frenchman and I will die as a Frenchman, he growled, proving that he at least had little doubt as to the outcome.

It was the seventh of December, 1815, nearly six months after Waterloo. The royalists were wreaking their revenge on those who had supported Bonaparte. Ironically, their initial efforts had been led by Joseph Fouché, a man who had signed the old king’s death warrant and who had for years been minister of police under Napoleon. But as those who have read my earlier memoirs on the Waterloo campaign will know, that wily devil was a master of playing both sides. He had seized control of the country after the battle and blackmailed some royalists to secure his old job under the returning king. Then to prove his loyalty to the new regime, he had launched a persecution of his old comrades. Top of his wanted list was the prisoner.

I had only met the man that March, although I had faced him in battle several times. He had even ridden past me once in Spain when I had been disguised as a Polish lancer. Heaven knows how we formed a bond, for we are complete opposites. I am a craven coward with little sense of honour and a passion for self-preservation. Marshal Ney on the other hand was the most courageous man I know, with an immense sense of pride to serve France and, to his cost, very little understanding of the strategies and schemes of others.

Some Bonapartists blamed him for the defeat at Waterloo, although he was not alone in that responsibility. The royalists blamed him for changing sides when he was sent to arrest Napoleon. They had been shocked at how easily the country had abandoned the king and were determined that such a thing would not happen again. This meant making an example of the traitors. Several had been executed already and many others had fled the country. Ney had also made plans to leave, but had delayed too long. He had been forced to go into hiding as a wanted man and some rogue had betrayed him. He had been a dead man ever since he had been caught; it was only the timing and manner of his death that was in doubt. Now even that was known: he was to be shot. While he might have hoped for a few days to finalise his affairs, the royalists wanted the matter over and done with quickly.

The princess has gone to the palace to make a final appeal for clemency, Colonel de Briqueville confided, glancing up at the sky. By the time the king rises to see her, it is likely to be far too late.

Ney had accrued an array of titles under his emperor, the most senior of which was Prince of Moscow. They seemed a hollow mockery now and most royalists ignored them, but my companion always gave his marshal due honour. Ney had saved his life, crawling over brittle ice to pull him from a river. In return de Briqueville would be loyal to the end.

The colonel had nearly lost his life again recently. His dragoon regiment had been mauled by the Prussians after Waterloo, and he had taken a sabre cut to the head and right wrist. Even then, months later, he wore a leather cap to protect his skull and had wooden splints on his arm. We had served the marshal together earlier that year. It was de