George MacDonald Fraser dies. (OT)

[Rhythm Thief]

So it says here. I'm quite sad, it's the first I've heard of it.

 

[John the Monkey]

There was a good obit (written by Max Hastings) in the Daily Mail (was readig the local chippy's copy). As a big fan of the Flashman books, I was saddened to read of his passing - he had the knack for writing a great tale with a good pinch of historical accuracy thrown in. I didn't know he'd served in the second world war under General Slim (and written of his experiences) so I'll be looking those books out at some point.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

John, "Quartered Safe Out Here" is the memoir of his service in Burma in WWII. It's an excellent book, well worth a read.

 

[Cush]

A great author and historian gone, while one or two of his books were not as funny as he intended, he was among the best. His Flashman books opened up a whole new world to me, his history of the Border Reivers has led to thirty years of exploring the Northern countys and I learnt more about Carlisle from"Quartered Safe Out Here" than I could from a dozen other books.
Cush