Black Ajax
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.Amazon.com Review
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
March 7th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
With a relatively unusual format, using the jargon and slang peculiar to England during the Napoleonic era, the author brings to life a little known historical event in which an American ex-slave nearly becomes the boxing champion of England. Properly adapted for the screen, this stands to be a wonderful, highly unusual movie.
Rating: 5 / 5
March 7th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
It is said that this book is based on historical fact. But with MacDonald Fraser you can never be sure if he wears his straight face, or if he is putting you on. Perhaps he just wants to make a point when he puts old Buck Flashman on the scene? It is an interesting story, well writen. But the cockney accents seem a bit overdone, making for a difficult read. A bit of stiff upper lip may have served better.
Rating: 4 / 5
March 7th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
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.
Rating: 5 / 5
March 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
“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.
Rating: 5 / 5
March 8th, 2010 at 12:15 am
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: 5 / 5