This means nothing to me

 . . . the whole quarter reeked of money, privilege, and luxury in doubtful taste. It was reckoned to be the richest Upper Ten outside London, and the two hundred families of princes, counts, and assorted titled trash spent ten million quid among ’em per annum, which ain’t bad for gaslight and groceries. They spent more, ate more, drank more, danced more, and fornicated more than any other capital on earth (and that's Fetridge* talking, not me) . . .

*Footnote 23. W. Pembroke Fetridge was the author of The American Traveller's Guide: Harper's Handbook for Travellers in Europe, which first appeared in 1862. Flashman probably had the 1871 edition.


Flashman and the Tiger, p.185, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2000.


Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, Vienna.

My strongest suit

Still, it’s odd that I never got my tongue around it, for apart from fleeing and fornication, slinging the bat* is my strongest suit; well, I speak nine languages better than natives, and can rub along in another dozen or so.


*Speaking the local language (Brit. Army slang)

Flashman and the Redskins, p.17, Pan Books edition, 1983.

Tags:Flashman, Flashman quotes, language.

This elegant fellow

‘Aye – ye have fornicated more times than I have passed water,’ says this elegant fellow.

Flashman in the Great Game, p.173, Pan edition, 4th printing, 1979.

Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, fornicate.

Still in its infancy

It was plain to see that outside New Orleans, fornication was still in its infancy.

Flash For Freedom!, p.139, Pan edition, 8th printing, 1980.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes,New Orleans.

The Flashman character profile

…I was so relieved that I was almost happy as I listened to him denouncing me for a wastrel, a fornicator, a cheat, a liar, a brute, and all the rest of it – I couldn’t fault a word of it, anyway.

Flash For Freedom!, p.40, Pan edition, 8th printing, 1980.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes,William Elphinstone, Elphy Bey.

Fornicating with Viscount Peel

…by the time I reached the Channel I heard news that Lola was in Switzerland, fornicating with Viscount Peel, the old prime minister’s son – no doubt he was well peeled too, by the time she had finished with him.

Royal Flash, pp.270-1, Pan edition, 8th printing, 1978.

Tags:
Flashman, Flashman quotes,Viscount Peel, Lola Montez.