Go back

I found this book in one of those little “libraries” you find outside random houses in England. I enjoyed it a lot, and similarly to other MacDonald Fraser books I’ve read, I learnt a lot. I am a sucker for a fun somewhat historical novel.

That said, the subject matter of this book was, to my 2026 eyes, a bit tough to get on board with. The book is written a series of interviews with various characters around the titular black ajax, Tom Molineaux. Those characters speak in various affected accents, and use the sort of derogatory language that I guess was common at the time. Maybe this is a win for historical authenticity, but it’s sometimes tough going.