Black Ajax

In Black Ajax, George MacDonald Fraser tells the story of a black man from the United States who nearly became England's champion boxer during the early 19th century. This historical novel is based on the true story of Tom Molineaux, a former slave who won his freedom in a boxing match, then travelled to England, refined his skills, and almost became the first black champ. The story is told by over a dozen witnesses to Molineaux's bouts with the reigning champion, Tom Cribb. Molineaux's trainer recalls the fighter's awe-inspiring strength and speed. A butler who asks to remain anonymous divulges information about the fighter's love affair with an English noblewoman. Molineaux's manager, a former slave and retired boxer, speaks bitterly of his disappointment in the youth for failing to prove to the English that a black man could be as capable a fighter as any white man. Nearly all the witnesses to the first match between the two fighters thought Molineaux lost mainly because the judges gave the white opponent an unfair advantage.

All the characters in this novel speak in 19th-century dialect, and it's diverting to try to decipher their many odd turns of phrase. For those who cannot determine the meanings of words such as "Spike Hotel", "toco", "winker", and "wistycastor" from context, the author provides a glossary at the end of the book. Unfortunately, almost all of the characters seem overly fond of using racial epithets, which draws attention to the shortcomings of this book. The main one is that Tom Molineaux, who undoubtedly was a complex, fascinating character, comes across as a stereotype here: a hulk with not many brains but a lot of sex drive. Although Fraser fails in that respect, this novel does vividly chronicle an intriguing episode in the history of sport and race relations. --Jill Marquis

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Black Ajax - Rated
In Black Ajax, George Macdonald Fraser proves that he was every bit as good at recreating Regency England as he was in bringing the Victorian world to such vivid life in the Flashman series. Told to an imaginary journalist from a variety of standpoints, this book expertly traces the rise and fall of tragic young boxer Tom Molineaux from plantation slave, to title fight contender, to worn out pug facing a premature and unnecessary death.

The various characters, who act as the witnesses to (and occasional participants in) Tom's story, are all vivid, authentic and robustly three dimensional. All of them speak convincingly in their own voices and they all employ the (meticulously researched) vernacular appropriate to their background, be they Louisiana plantation owner, East End boxing trainer or Regency dandy. Fraser is a master of convincing dialogue but even by his standards these vignettes are a real tour-de-force. Equally good - as you would again expect from Fraser - is the brilliant evocation of Regency England, which is colourfully and convincingly brought to life, often through an unobtrusive but telling little detail or a seemingly throwaway phrase. And, as ever with Fraser, the whole thing reads as effortlessly as if he had written it at one sitting.

In summary, this is an intelligent, absorbing and hugely entertaining book. It was clearly a labour of love that appealed to both the historian and the boxing fan in Fraser, but you don't have to be either to revel in a tale told by a master storyteller.

One final point. I don't usually have an opinion on the Amazon reviews but I am stung into print by this one, which accuses Fraser of putting racist language into his characters' mouths and of stereotyping Molineaux. This is ridiculous. To criticise Fraser for reflecting Regency speech patterns is like criticising Johnny Speight for putting racist language into the mouth of Alf Garnett; this is actually how people spoke in 1812 and to pretend otherwise is to falsify history. The charge of negative stereotyping is even more baffling. Although Molyneaux did undoubtedly behave irresponsibly (even if no more so than many modern sportsmen), Fraser makes it perfectly obvious where his sympathies lie; indeed at times, particularly as the young boxer faces death, the writing is almost heartbreakingly poignant. It saddens me that the point of Black Ajax appears to have eluded Jill Marquis, but I am delighted that it was fully understood by the (predominantly black) ex-offenders' theatre group, the London Shakespeare Workout, who, in 2007, adapted Black Ajax into a stage play to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. Ignore the Guardianistas - they just don't get Fraser.

A Gem - Rated
This book is a sparkling jewel of a semi-fictional historical novel. It is Mr Fraser at his inventive and innovative best.

The tale is of the short but explosive career of Tom Molineaux: a black, former American slave who very nearly became a nineteenth century bare knuckle boxing champion of England. As is typical of Mr Fraser, the language and vocabulary are so rich and full that the reader is transported back through time with ease and with a true sense of the period.

The story is delivered through various witnesses and observers. This can be off-putting usually, but Mr Fraser brings it off with aplomb. The Amazon.com Review above is absurd in its suggestion that the text contains too many "racial epithets"; absurd because one imagines the language to be spot on for the time. It is an historical novel after all.

Black Ajax is a scintillating and most enjoyable read and one I thoroughly recommend.

almost a classic - Rated
I found myself a little embaraased in places at the use of rascist language and behaviour of some of the characters, however, as previous reviewers have mentioned it was how people thought anc acted at the time. So whilst it was slightly uncomfortable reading at times it's a facinating insight into the period and particularly bare-knuckle boxing. Tom's very nearly 'besting the english at their own game' is poignant, especially as it is true. An interesting read, highly reccommended.

Outstanding read - Rated
I wasn't sure about this book. I normally hate books where the story is told from different characters' points of view the author really manages to drive the story along with pace and the change of narrator actually adds to the story.

The editoral review above mentions that the characters are use racist language too much! This seems a ludicrous criticism bearing in mind how people would have actually spoken in Victorian times. The lack of censorship in word and thought is one of the things that make this book really interesting.

It's a touching story about race and fame and 100% recommended for those who'd not normally buy books about those subjects.

Excellent stuff from the creator of Flashman - Rated
I had thought that George MacDonald Fraser was going stale and that the last books in the Flashman series had been dull and one-dimensional. What he obviously needed was a change of character to set the creative juices flowing again, because this was a true return to form. Since reading the Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell I've found the Regency a fascinating time, but this novel brings them to life far more effectively that Mr Cornwell's formulaic pot-boilers. The characters are fantastic: Pad Jones, Bill Richmond, Tom Cribb and Tom Molineux himself, not forgetting, of course, the dastardly Buck Flashman.

What makes the novel more poignant is that these, with the exception of Mr Flashman, were all real people. Tom's descent to ruin is beautifully told, and the author's grip on the Regency argot is wonderful. Why can't all books be more like this?