Rating: 
Summary: Rave English Reviews of "Black Ajax"
Review: "A historical romp, told with the wealth of period details that only MacDonald Fraser can muster. MacDonald Fraser leaps with gusto into each character, bringing them to vivid life. . . as well as [providing] canny insights into the hypocrisies and injustices that go with racial and social prejudice."--The Times (London) "A masterly piece of historical fiction."--Sunday Telegraph "Told with great confidence and humor."--The Guardian "Wonderfully well done . . . rigorous [and] intelligent."--The Observer
Rating: 
Summary: A colourfully told bareknuckle boxing history.
Review: A more serious historical novel than we are used to from MacDonald Fraser. This novel still contains much of the wit and pizzazz found in the Flashman papers. The flavour of that era is strongly portrayed, but the heavy use of "olde Englishe" makes the book difficult to read and in my opinion, does not add to the story. A glossary at the end helps, but does not cover all the terms used. The central character, Tom Molineaux, a black slave in America who wins his freedom in a boxing match, almost achieves his life's ambition of becoming the bareknuckle champion of England which at that time was "the world". But he fails to cope with his own demons and sinks to an early and undignified end. Is it a tragedy? MacDonald Frazer, leaves this question open. Tom started as an uneducated slave, then travelled to London, became famous, met the King, fought for the English bareknuckle title twice, and bedded some of the most famous "ladies" in England. It sure beats slavery!
Rating: 
Summary: Can't Put It Down!
Review: Another dead-shot arrow from Fraser's seemingly endless quiver. Fraser remains on the throne of historical fiction. One caveat: Anyone easily offended by racial slurs might want to avoid this and any other serious novel that deals with biogtry in history.
Rating:
Summary: Great Stuff
Review: From one of my most favorite authors of historical fiction comes this tale of a freed slave coming to England circa 1810 to try and break into the prizefighting game. Apparently prizefighting was the sport back then, enjoyed by all levels of society. Fraser tells the story of the rise and fall of this one-time legend in a series of mock interviews with those surrounding him: his childhood love, his manager, his trainer, his patron, several foes, and misc. others. Just as interesting as the fighter's story is the variety in language and perspective given in each interview. The interviews are loaded with slang from the era, which is only partially decoded in the glossary, so it may make for heavy reading for some. The patron of the prizefighter is Harry Flashman's father, in a tie-in to Fraser's excellent long-running Flashman series.
Rating:
Summary: Fine story of a freed-slave boxer in Regency England
Review: From the real-life story of the meteoric rise, and subsequent fall of Tom Molineaux, freed slave who comes to England with one purpose alone--to defeat the reigning champ, Tom Cribb. Seen through the eyes of various people who saw him (including, notably, Harry Flashman's father) (Flashman himself gets a brief mention) and who are telling their experiences to an unknown person, presumably an author or writer. Since Tom's fate is revealed in the prologue, watching Tom's arc, which will bring him achingly close to the top only to fall, is painful. But what makes this book is watching the attitude of those arond him, and the Napoleonic-era society which is delighted to embrace him as a novelty--and to turn against him the instant he becomes a threat or a failure. For all the wine, women and song he is given, the turning point in this book is when the misunderstood Tom realizes he will never be accepted, as a non-white, non-English contender, society and the mob will turn against him the instant he is seen as likely to become the champion. Fraser, as he showed for the later 19th century in the Flashman books, and as he did for the Edwardian era in Mr. American, shows an intimate knowledge and understanding of Regency England, which is brought to life for our enjoyment.
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Summary: Fraser in a new light
Review: I have now seen George MacDonald Fraser in a new light. Before he had always been a good read but now I dare say he is venturing into literature. His new book, "Black Ajax", tells the story of a Regency Era black boxer. What is special about this book is not only Fraser's exceptional skill and placing us in a bygone era but how he tells this particular story. The Story is told from the viewpoint of people who witnessed Black Ajax's life. It is told in a documentary fashion where you still feel a closeness with the main character. This story is not the normal gay romp of Flashman yet nor is it the melodrama of "Mr Amercian". One last thing, For you Flashman fans, you get to learn all about Flashy's father and our hero himself is present if only just a little offstage.
Rating:
Summary: Superb
Review: I read Black Ajax in one sitting and cannot get it out of my mind. This is one of the most poignant, dazzling novels I have ever read. Far from being presented as a stereotype, Tom Molineaux comes across as a multi-dimentional, deeply moving individual. Such is the author's skill that the character of 'Black Ajax' is built up slowly and subtly, from a variety of points of view. The racial epithets, far from drawing attention to the 'shortcomings' of the book (there are none), serve to highlight exactly what Tom Molineaux was up against. His situation is treated realistically and with compassion. The characterization and structure overall are outstanding. Each character's voice is unique. The book's greatest strength lies in its utter lack of sentimentality. Fraser is clearly a writer of supernatural gifts.
Rating:
Summary: Superb
Review: I read Black Ajax in one sitting and cannot get it out of my mind. This is one of the most poignant, dazzling novels I have ever read. Far from being presented as a stereotype, Tom Molineaux comes across as a multi-dimentional, deeply moving individual. Such is the author's skill that the character of 'Black Ajax' is built up slowly and subtly, from a variety of points of view. The racial epithets, far from drawing attention to the 'shortcomings' of the book (there are none), serve to highlight exactly what Tom Molineaux was up against. His situation is treated realistically and with compassion. The characterization and structure overall are outstanding. Each character's voice is unique. The book's greatest strength lies in its utter lack of sentimentality. Fraser is clearly a writer of supernatural gifts.
Rating:
Summary: A recreation, not of the past, but of another present.
Review: In this marvellously original novel Mr. MacDonald Fraser fully deploys his ability to create the very feel of another age in the way he has done humorously in the Flashman novels and seriously in "Mr.American". This book immerses us in the prizefighting world of Regency England but the author does not write of the past, but rather of another present, different to our own, and he makes it live not only though its own speech patterns and slang, but by conveying the values, expectations and cultural norms of the time, as expressed in daily life. There is no overt judgement here of the rights and wrongs of that society, with its acceptance of exploitation, economic, social, sexual and racial, on a scale inconceivable in modern Western Society, and this makes the implicit condemnation all the stronger. This is not a polemic however and one is reminded throughout how basic qualities of human decency, courage and compassion - no less than of greed and cruelty - are unchanging with time. The story - a true one - is complex, exciting and thought-provoking. The technique employed, a series of narratives from different viewpoints and from different observers or participants, none the main character, is an inherently difficult one to pull off successfully, but Mr. MacDonald Fraser manages it brilliantly. Each narrator has his or her own uniquely personal style and many are not reporting - but rather justifying themselves or establishing a personal stake on the basis of recollections that may or may not be totally accurate. The range of characterisation through reminiscence is stunning - from the proudly-conscious sadism of a Louisiana plantation owner, to the cynicism of a wealthy Havana brothel-keeper whom we have first encountered as an innocent and terrified slave girl, to the absolute amorality of the alcohol-sodden Flashman Senior (father of the immortal Harry) to the rough decency of English prize-fighters. The use of period style and slang is masterful. The author has obviously immersed himself in the writings of Pierce Egan (who features in the cast) and many of the pages of "Black Ajax" might indeed go undetected as being of later date if inserted among the chronicles of the original Tom and Jerry, while I am still uncertain whether the contribution of William Hazlitt (who also appears) is an extract from his actual writings or a recreation by Mr.MacDonald Fraser. In summary - a splendid novel. One thirsts for more in similar vein.
Rating:
Summary: A recreation, not of the past, but of another present.
Review: In this marvellously original novel Mr. MacDonald Fraser fully deploys his ability to create the very feel of another age in the way he has done humorously in the Flashman novels and seriously in "Mr.American". This book immerses us in the prizefighting world of Regency England but the author does not write of the past, but rather of another present, different to our own, and he makes it live not only though its own speech patterns and slang, but by conveying the values, expectations and cultural norms of the time, as expressed in daily life. There is no overt judgement here of the rights and wrongs of that society, with its acceptance of exploitation, economic, social, sexual and racial, on a scale inconceivable in modern Western Society, and this makes the implicit condemnation all the stronger. This is not a polemic however and one is reminded throughout how basic qualities of human decency, courage and compassion - no less than of greed and cruelty - are unchanging with time. The story - a true one - is complex, exciting and thought-provoking. The technique employed, a series of narratives from different viewpoints and from different observers or participants, none the main character, is an inherently difficult one to pull off successfully, but Mr. MacDonald Fraser manages it brilliantly. Each narrator has his or her own uniquely personal style and many are not reporting - but rather justifying themselves or establishing a personal stake on the basis of recollections that may or may not be totally accurate. The range of characterisation through reminiscence is stunning - from the proudly-conscious sadism of a Louisiana plantation owner, to the cynicism of a wealthy Havana brothel-keeper whom we have first encountered as an innocent and terrified slave girl, to the absolute amorality of the alcohol-sodden Flashman Senior (father of the immortal Harry) to the rough decency of English prize-fighters. The use of period style and slang is masterful. The author has obviously immersed himself in the writings of Pierce Egan (who features in the cast) and many of the pages of "Black Ajax" might indeed go undetected as being of later date if inserted among the chronicles of the original Tom and Jerry, while I am still uncertain whether the contribution of William Hazlitt (who also appears) is an extract from his actual writings or a recreation by Mr.MacDonald Fraser. In summary - a splendid novel. One thirsts for more in similar vein.
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