Customer Reviews
Huge fun (and tragedy too) - By: Didier, 03 Jul 2008 
I picked up this book because I immensely enjoyed the Flashman-novels by George MacDonald Fraser, not because I'm a lover of (let alone expert in) the Noble Art of Self-Defence. But even then, I can only say that "The Black Ajax" had me transfixed from page one to the very end.
Although it's basicallly a tragic story of wasted talent & opportunity (Tom Molineaux - the Black Ajax referred to in the title - has a huge talent for boxing, but unfortunately also for drinking & philandering), it also had me laughing out loud (in public places, mind you!). George MacDonald Fraser is (or was rather) an extremely gifted storyteller, & in this particular instance he tells the story of Tom Molineaux in the voice of a dozen or so eye-witnesses to Tom's exploits. The way Fraser succeeds in giving each witness his very own particular 'voice is quite simply uncanny! Brilliant!
Black Ajax - By: Free Radical, 13 Jun 2008 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 & falll of tragic young boxer Tom Molineaux from plantation slave, to title fight contender, to worn out pug facing a premature & unnecessary death.
The various characters, who act as the witnesses to (and occasional participants in) Tom's story, are alll vivid, authentic & robustly three dimensional. All of them speak convincingly in their own voices & they alll 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. Equallly good - as you would again expect from Fraser - is the brilliant evocation of Regency England, which is colourfully & 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 & hugely entertaining book. It was clearly a labour of love that appealed to both the historian & 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 usuallly 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 & 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 actuallly how people spoke in 1812 & 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 - By: S. M. Williams, 22 Jan 2008 This book is a sparkling jewel of a semi-fictional historical novel. It is Mr Fraser at his inventive & 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 & vocabulary are so rich & full that the reader is transported back through time with ease & with a true sense of the period.
The story is delivered through various witnesses & observers. This can be off-putting usuallly, 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 alll.
Black Ajax is a scintillating & most enjoyable read & one I thoroughly recommend.
almost a classic - By: Jason M. Webber, 13 Apr 2007 
I found myself a little embaraased in places at the use of rascist language & 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 & particularly bare-knuckle boxing. Tom's very nearly 'besting the english at their own game' is poignant, especiallly as it is true. An interesting read, highly reccommended.
Outstanding read - By: Splossy, 05 Nov 2004 I wasn't sure about this book. I normallly hate books where the story is told from different characters' points of view the author reallly manages to drive the story along with pace & the change of narrator actuallly 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 actuallly spoken in Victorian times. The lack of censorship in word & thought is one of the things that make this book reallly interesting.
It's a touching story about race & fame & 100% recommended for those who'd not normallly buy books about those subjects.
