Showing posts with label Queen Victoria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Queen Victoria. Show all posts
Monday, 5 November 2012
Encountering royalty
You never know what to expect on encountering royalty. I’ve seen ’em stark naked except for wings of peacock feathers (Empress of China), giggling drunk in the embrace of a wrestler (Maharani of the Punjab), voluptuously wrapped in wet silk (Queen of Madagascar), wafting to and fro on a swing (Rani of Jhansi), and tramping along looking like an out-of-work charwoman (our own gracious monarch).
Flashman on the March, pp. 148-9, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2005.
Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, royalty.
Monday, 23 April 2012
A notorious wastrel
When you're a queen of unblemished virtue, devoted to Duty and the high moral tone, and your son and Heir to the Throne is a notorious wastrel who counts all time lost when he ain't stuffing, swilling, sponging off rich toad-eaters and rogering anything in skirts, you're apt to be censorious . . .
Flashman and the Tiger, p.213, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2000.
Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, censorious.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Wellington's joke
I did my best, and like a fool ventured Wellington's joke when the Queen asked him what was the aroma from the ranks of the Guards, and Nosey replied: “Esprit de corps, ma’am.”
Flashman and the Tiger, p.127, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2000.
Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, esprit de corps.
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Imperial roughneck (ret)
…and if you think it odd she should confide in the likes of us, the retired imperial roughneck of heroic record but dubious repute, and the Glasgow merchant’s daughter . . . well, you don’t know our late lamented Queen Empress.
Flashman and the Mountain of Light, p.14, Fontana Paperback edition, 1991.
Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, queen.
Monday, 4 April 2011
Stubborn little duck
“Now, my dear Sir Harry, I must tell you,” says her majesty, with that stubborn little duck of the head that always made Palmerston think she was going to butt him in the guts, “I am quite determined to learn Hindoostanee.”
Flashman and the Mountain of Light, p.11, Fontana Paperback edition, 1991.
Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, Victoria.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Tartan carpets
…she suddenly accused a young nobleman of being a secret Christian . . . there and then he was submitted to ordeal . . . they boiled up a cauldron of water . . . he tried to snatch coins out of the bubbling pit, plucking and screaming while the rest of us tried not to be sick . . .
Not quite what we’re accustomed to at Balmoral, you’ll agree, but at least Ranavalona didn’t go in for tartan carpets.
Flashman's Lady, p.239, Pan edition, 1979.
Tags:Flashman, Flashman quotes, Balmoral.
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Troublesome house guests
Admittedly, you can’t have it getting about that her guests have been trying to slaughter each other; the poor woman probably had enough trouble getting people to visit, with Albert about the place.
Flashman in the Great Game, pp.56-7, Pan edition, 4th printing, 1979.
Tags:
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Drive a woman to fury
…he and Victoria weren’t getting on too well just then; she had just discovered (and confided to Elspeth) that she was in foal for the ninth time, and she took her temper out on dear Albert – the trouble was, he was so bloody patient with her, which can drive a woman to fury faster than anything I know. And he was always right, which was worse. So they weren’t dealing at all well, and he spent most of the daylight hours tramping up Glen bollocks, or whatever they call it, roaring ‘Ze gunn!’ and butchering every animal in view.
Flashman in the Great Game, p.23, Pan edition, 4th printing, 1979.
Tags:
Monday, 30 November 2009
Her Britannic Majesty
…but her first glimpse of our royal hosts reduced her awe a trifle, I think. We took a stroll the first afternoon, in the direction of Balmoral, and on the road encounted what seemed to be a family of tinkers led by a small washerwoman and an usher who had evidently pinched his headmaster’s clothes.
Flashman in the Great Game, p.20, Pan edition, 4th printing, 1979.
Tags:
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
A trot-along look
Well, well, thinks I, little Vicky remembers my whiskers after all these years. I recalled how she had mooned tearfully at me when she pinned my medal on, back in ’42 – they’re all alike you know, can’t resist a dashing boy with big shoulders and a trot-along look in his eye.
Flashman at the Charge, p.31, Pan edition, 5th printing, 1979.
whiskersWednesday, 18 February 2009
Like a jack-rabbit
…and who doesn’t even hesitate before jumping up like a jack-rabbit when his Queen’s health is proposed.
Flash For Freedom!, p.13, Pan edition, 8th printing, 1980.
Tags:
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Flown with inspiration
However, I had to say something, so I mumbled about Her Majesty’s service.
‘England’s service.’ said she, looking intense.
‘The say thing, ma’am,’ says I, flown with inspiration, and she cast her eyes down wistfully. The Duke gave what sounded like a little groan.
Flashman, p.274, Pan edition, 12th printing, 1979.
‘England’s service.’ said she, looking intense.
‘The say thing, ma’am,’ says I, flown with inspiration, and she cast her eyes down wistfully. The Duke gave what sounded like a little groan.
Flashman, p.274, Pan edition, 12th printing, 1979.
Tags:
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Pretty enough beneath the neck
And only then did I realize who the girl was. We are accustomed to think of her as the old queen, but she was just a child then, rather plump, and pretty enough beneath the neck. Her eyes were large and popped a little, and her teeth stuck out too much, but she smiled and murmured in reply – by this time I was bowing my backside off, naturally.
Flashman, p.271, Pan edition, 12th printing, 1979.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)