Does anyone (or anyone's dh/p/w) read books like Sharpe/flashman and can recommend something similar

35 replies

Wheelybug · 02/12/2007 16:32

DH has read all the above and books by someone Mallinson and a couple of others I've found but just wondered if there were any other good ones anyone could recommend ?

(He doesn't like Patrick O'Brien btw)

OP posts:

santagitta · 06/12/2007 13:47

Which of all the ones listed here are comic? (DH loves flashman, so wondering what is not just historical) Are James Delingpole or P O Brian funny?

RoxyNotFoxy · 06/12/2007 13:42

Not quite sure what you mean when you bracket Sharpe and Flashman, because the Flash books are meant to be comic as well as adventurous. But if you just mean historical action-based novels, then why not try Robert Harris's two Roman novels, Pomeii and Imperium.

Would also recommend CS Forester over Patrick O'Brian any day. Books are much faster, less pretentious, less crammed with unnecessary detail, and better written.

poppy34 · 02/12/2007 20:50

Simon Scarrow... there are a couple of serie he has done -one about roman soldiers (sounds pants but dh who lurves sharpe says its excellent) and also a 4 parter (currently on book 2) about napoleon and wellington -first one is called Young bloods, next one the generals.

WHEELYbahhumBUG · 02/12/2007 20:48

sorry bluestocking . What can i say...

Thanks all - ST - will look at that one sounds like something he might like and Hornblower was one I'd thought of in the past so will look at those.

Weegle - people have recommended Brookmyre but DH has never seem interested - he is more of a liker of historical fiction (with the odd thriller or murder mystery thrown in). I try to just encourage him to read something other than the FT !

Thanks everyone.

Bluestocking · 02/12/2007 20:20

Doesn't like Patrick O'Brian?

Kathyis6incheshigh · 02/12/2007 20:19

My dh loves C.S.Forester (who wrote Hornblower) - two military ones are 'Death to the French!' and 'The Gun'.

Kathyis6incheshigh · 02/12/2007 20:19

My dh loves C.S.Forester (who wrote Hornblower) - two military ones are 'Death to the French!' and 'The Gun'.

Weegle · 02/12/2007 20:19

if he's not in to Patrick O'Brian then there's not really much I can think of that's similar to the Flashman books. However DH who is in to Flashman, O'Brian etc also really has enjoyed Christopher Brookmyre. Completely different but definitely a "blokes" novel in the same way as George MacDonald Fraser. He's also written other novels so if he likes his style then worth looking some of them out?

SilentTerror · 02/12/2007 20:15

There is a new series by James Delingpole,the first book is 'Coward on the beach' set in the Second World War;Haven't read it yet but the reviews likened it to Flashman.
Hope that helps!

WHEELYbahhumBUG · 02/12/2007 18:25

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