A malevolent eye

     The port did not circulate very long after the ladies had left, however. General Flashman, rendered even more reminiscent by the champagne he had consumed, joined the group around the King at the table head and launched into a vivid recollection of how his majesty, as a youthful Prince of Wales fifty years before, had been compromised by an Actress in Ireland, to the dismay of the other guests and the suppressed fury of the King. To make matters worse, the old man took to calling the King 'young Bertie', and an unpleasant scene was prevented only by Soveral's tactful suggestion that they should join the ladies, who would be eager for bridge. The King, glaring thunderously, took the hint and led the way from the dining room: General Flashman cocked a malevolent eye and observed: 'Bridge, eh? Played it in Russia before you lot were born. Game for half-wits.' and then fell asleep over the decanter.


Mr American, p.198, Pan Books, paperback edition 1982.


Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, reminiscent.

Desperate bad acting

You never saw such desperate bad acting — hands raised, eyes and mouth agog, worse than Irving hearing the bells. Then he glared like a mad marmoset, one finger outthrust.


Flashman and the Tiger, p.57, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2000.


Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, acting.

Cf. Hollywood

…she had decided a career as a mistress was no great shakes, and had determined to try her luck on stage — she’d been born with a talent for mimicry, and being vicious, immoral, and vain, she had taken to the theatre like a pirate to plunder.


Flashman and the Angel of the Lord, p.201, Harper Collins, 1995.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, theatre.

Mouthing the Agincourt speech

I can see him still; erect, head thrown back, eyes blazing, like the worst kind of actor mouthing the Agincourt speech to a crowd of yokels in a tent theatre in the backwoods.

Flashman's Lady, p.139, Pan edition, 1979.

Tags:Flashman, Flashman quotes, Agincourt.