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Black Ajax | 
 enlarge | Authors: George Macdonald Fraser, George Fraser
Publisher: Carroll & Graf
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $1.98
You Save: $12.97 (87%)
New (24) Used (30) Collectible (1) from $0.69
Avg. Customer Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 663173
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.8
ISBN: 078670618X
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780786706181
ASIN: 078670618X
Publication Date: April 20, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Absolutely Brand New. Gift quality. Not a remainder. Ship daily @8:30am w/ delivery confirmation.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
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 traveled 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
Product Description
Bringing historical fact spiritedly to life, Fraser tells the rollicking tale of how "the Black Ajax" became as famous a figure in England as Napoleon -- and just as much a threat to its establishment -- before he passed into boxing legend and created a precedent for modern black prizefighters.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
 Another great book March 10, 2008
George MacDonald Fraser once again proves his true calling he should have been a sports writer. That's really all I need to say can't say enough good things about the author or this book.
Overall-Even Flashman fans will not be disappointed in this installment.
Fraser at his best February 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Fraser works his charcters and plots with taste and ease. They are real people and real places. Makes you want to read more and find out what happened next. A real grabber.
Masterful story October 29, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Black Ajax" is a fascinating fictionalized history/social commentary/boxing story about the American ex-slave Tom Molineaux who fought the Englishman Tom Cribb for the Championship of the world back in 1810 and 1811. The story is presented in monologues as told by the principal participants to an unnamed fictional biographer/reporter some time after Molineaux's death. Of course, the dialogue and some of the characters are invented (most notably Buck Flashman, the rakish father of MacDonald Fraser's most famous creation), but I was surprised to learn after reading this book that its main incidents and characters were real. George MacDonald Fraser is simply a master storyteller with a jeweler's eye for historical detail who has written yet another masterpiece. In this retelling of the story of Tom Molineaux, it's striking how boxing's seamy template of racial animosities, financial exploitation and pathetic physical ruin isn't just a 20th century story but goes back as far as Regency England, and probably back to the Coliseum. This is a great book. It's too bad the old fellow can't go on writing forever.
 Almost...but not quite February 28, 2006
This book is very good as a stand alone - but if you expect the usual Flashy antics, they are not there. Nevertheless as a canvas of 19th century English boxing, this is first rate.
Tom Bertenshaw
Fine story of a freed-slave boxer in Regency England September 3, 2002
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
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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