This study will compare and contrast two books to discover their social, political and historical significance and relevance. The two works are novels, George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman and Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. Both books reflect some historical truth, but at the same time they are biased by the personal views of their authors. This is not necessarily a criticism, for a novel without a personal bias will not be a book worth reading. Even a novel which exaggerates and distorts the truth (such as Fraser's) can be effective social commentary if the society's prejudices and injustices are recognizable.
Achebe's novel reflects historical fact as it fictionally portrays traditional African life in a Nigerian village before and after the coming of the white man. It does not try to portray history in an objective or neutral way, but clearly is sympathetic to the plight of the Africans, especially the hero Okonkwo, and critical of the imperialistic Europeans and the destructive impact they have on the traditional life and culture of the Nigerians.
Fraser's novel focuses more on the outrageous exploits of the Flashman than on the social or historical circumstances of his adventures, but the reader cannot read this book without perceiving the prejudices and injustices permeating British society and its destructive excursions in its colonies in the 19th century. At the same time, it is clear that the social structure portrayed in the book is a strict one which includes clear definitions about economic and social roles and classes. The power of the British class system of that era---mid-19th century Victorian England---was such that it translated almost intact to India and other parts east. The british simply believed that their system was the best, that other systems needed to be changed to fit England's social structure, and it was inevitable that such change would be wrought sooner or later. The British are shown as fee...