Stealing best

“Quoting Shakespeare, Oscar?” says I. “Pity you don’t crib him more often. Get better notices, what? My dear,” says I to Selly, “this is Mr Wilde, who write comic material for the halls.”


Flashman and the Tiger, p.290, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2000.


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As fine a catalogue

…as you may know from my memoirs, as fine a catalogue of honours won through knavery, cowardice, taking cover, and squealing for mercy as you’ll ever strike.


Flashman and the Mountain of Light, p.22, Fontana Paperback edition, 1991.



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Doctor Thorne, I presume

Elgin himself looked ten years younger, now that he’d cast the die, but I thought exuberance had got the better of him when he strode into the saloon later, threw The Origin of Species on the table and announced:
      “It’s very original, no doubt, but not for a hot evening. What I need is some trollop.”
      I couldn’t believe my ears, and him a church-goer, too. “Well, my lord, I dunno,” says I. “Tientsin ain’t much of a place, but I’ll see what I can drum up —”
      “Michel’s been reading Doctor Thorne since Taku,” cried he. “He must have finished it by now, surely! Ask him, Flashman, will you?” So I did, and had my ignorance, enlightened.


Flashman and the Dragon, p.170, Fontana Paperback edition, 1986.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, Anthony Trollope.