Britain's Greatest Hero Never Existed!
The History Chap
52,452 views
The most celebrated British hero of the First Anglo-Afghan War was brave, resourceful, and utterly magnificent under fire. He was also completely fictional - Harry Flashman.
Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.
Love British History?
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The most celebrated British hero of the First Anglo-Afghan War was brave, resourceful, and utterly magnificent under fire. He was also completely fictional.
In 1842, a British garrison held the walled city of Jellalabad against Afghan forces for five gruelling months.
George MacDonald Fraser placed his roguish anti-hero Harry Flashman at the heart of it — and wrote the fiction so convincingly that several early reviewers questioned whether Flashman was a real historical figure.
The line between fact and invention had all but disappeared.This video untangles the two versions of the story.What did Flashman supposedly do at Piper's Fort — and what actually happened on those walls?
Who were the real officers who endured the earthquake, the collapse of the city's defences, and the relentless pressure of Afghan forces through a bitter Afghan winter?
And why has history largely forgotten the men who actually fought there, while a coward who never existed became a legend?
The answers are, in their own way, more remarkable than anything Fraser invented.
You'll meet General Robert 'Fighting Bob' Sale, whose stubborn refusal to abandon Jellalabad may have saved the entire British position in Afghanistan.
You'll encounter Major George Broadfoot, who turned a crumbling mud fort into something defensible through sheer will and ingenuity.
You'll follow the young Captain Henry Havelock — and Colonel William Dennie, who fell in the very moment of victory.
And you'll understand exactly what George MacDonald Fraser did with all of their stories.
Because that is the real genius.
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:43 Harry Flashman
2:55 "Fighting Bob" Sale
4:15 Jellalabad
5:40 First Anglo-Afghan War
6:27 Retreat from Kabul
7:15 Dr. Brydon
8:17 Sale's Dilema
9:54 The Earthquake
11:55 Siege of Jellalabad
13:32 A Daring Raid
15:21 "Fighting Bob" Fights Again
17:46 Seige Lifted
#britishhistory #militaryhistory #britishempire #flashman
Follow me at:
https://www.thehistorychap.com
Podcast: https://www.thehistorychappodcast.com
Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH
thehistorychap
My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham and am a member of the Royal Historical Society.
I am also a member of the Victorian Military Society, the Anglo Zulu War Society and the Military Historical Society.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
The History Chap is a trading name of Chris Green Communication Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales (Co No: 05025587)
20 Comments
I first ran into ‘Flashman’ as a would-be hippie (age 21) at a Moroccan desert oasis east of the Atlas Mountains. He had been introduced as a paper wipe convenience to our crude outhouse. A few pages of his first chapter were missing but I found him so interesting that I kept several chapters ahead with him each time I paid him a visit. Lost touch with him for years afterwards but rediscovered him on the net and listened to all the rest of his volumes now available for free listening and downloading on the next.
He’s simply the best and most entertaining recorder of the Victoria eras personalities and events regardless of the fast that he was a good scoundrel, a brave coward and a truthful liar. Best of all he was an accurate gossip and an extraordinary judge of historical human being, never once telling an untruth about himself . . .
Britain's Greatest Hero Never Existed!
The History Chap
52,452 views
The most celebrated British hero of the First Anglo-Afghan War was brave, resourceful, and utterly magnificent under fire. He was also completely fictional - Harry Flashman.
Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.
Love British History?
Get My Free Weekly Newsletter
https://www.thehistorychap.com/Newsle...
WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT MY CHANNEL
Become A Patron and get exclusive history talks
https://www.thehistorychap.com/Suppor...
Make a one-off donation
https://buymeacoffee.com/thehistorychap
The most celebrated British hero of the First Anglo-Afghan War was brave, resourceful, and utterly magnificent under fire. He was also completely fictional.
In 1842, a British garrison held the walled city of Jellalabad against Afghan forces for five gruelling months.
George MacDonald Fraser placed his roguish anti-hero Harry Flashman at the heart of it — and wrote the fiction so convincingly that several early reviewers questioned whether Flashman was a real historical figure.
The line between fact and invention had all but disappeared.This video untangles the two versions of the story.What did Flashman supposedly do at Piper's Fort — and what actually happened on those walls?
Who were the real officers who endured the earthquake, the collapse of the city's defences, and the relentless pressure of Afghan forces through a bitter Afghan winter?
And why has history largely forgotten the men who actually fought there, while a coward who never existed became a legend?
The answers are, in their own way, more remarkable than anything Fraser invented.
You'll meet General Robert 'Fighting Bob' Sale, whose stubborn refusal to abandon Jellalabad may have saved the entire British position in Afghanistan.
You'll encounter Major George Broadfoot, who turned a crumbling mud fort into something defensible through sheer will and ingenuity.
You'll follow the young Captain Henry Havelock — and Colonel William Dennie, who fell in the very moment of victory.
And you'll understand exactly what George MacDonald Fraser did with all of their stories.
Because that is the real genius.
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:43 Harry Flashman
2:55 "Fighting Bob" Sale
4:15 Jellalabad
5:40 First Anglo-Afghan War
6:27 Retreat from Kabul
7:15 Dr. Brydon
8:17 Sale's Dilema
9:54 The Earthquake
11:55 Siege of Jellalabad
13:32 A Daring Raid
15:21 "Fighting Bob" Fights Again
17:46 Seige Lifted
#britishhistory #militaryhistory #britishempire #flashman
Follow me at:
https://www.thehistorychap.com
Podcast: https://www.thehistorychappodcast.com
Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH
thehistorychap
My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham and am a member of the Royal Historical Society.
I am also a member of the Victorian Military Society, the Anglo Zulu War Society and the Military Historical Society.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
The History Chap is a trading name of Chris Green Communication Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales (Co No: 05025587)