The splendid horseshoe

. . . I was able to get a full view of that extraordinary wonder of the natural world, all six hundred yards of it from the broken cataracts at its western end to the splendid horseshoe on the east. Aye, the devil certainly looks after his own, thinks I, while my Galla escorts sneered and nudged each other and muttered “Walker!” in Amharic.



Flashman on the March, p.145, Harper Collins, paperback edition 2005.


Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, view.

Curious American compulsion

…I didn’t overhear much more, for young Anderson, who was seated next to me, had that curious American compulsion to tell you his life-story, as well as his views on everything under the sun.


Flashman and the Angel of the Lord, p.216, Harper Collins, 1995.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, compulsion.

A clash of armies

       The best way to view a clash of armies is from a hot-air balloon, for not only can you see what’s doing, you’re safely out of the line of fire. I’ve done it once in Paraguay, and there’s nothing to beat it, provided some jealous swine of a husband doesn’t take a cleaver to the cable.


Flashman and the Mountain of Light, p.326, Fontana Paperback edition, 1991.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, balloon.