" If soldiers were on a campaign, much as the stone masons helping with cathedrals etc, they would be in a location for months or longer which would help with the 'lingo'. "
Good point but this took place in the Peninsula campaign, which was in Spain. I think Sharpe could speak some Spanish, because his wife was with the partisans until she was killed by someone with a colourful name, Obediah Hakeswill.
Having had the misfourtune of visiting Saudi over fifty times on business (I counted the visas in my passports to check) I’d like to invent a new game for them to ban called “Nuke Riyadh”. I’d play it every day 
You're probably right. Much like Mr. Gladstone's penchant for "saving" young women.
Norman, I was browsing in a brocante in town earlier this week and came across a pile of books, novels mainly and all in English obviously left by English speaking clients. Looking around the establishment I came across a book prominently displayed on a table on it's own. The book was 'Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure' or 'Fanny Hill' to you and me. I had a good five-minute perusal and quickly realsed why this novel is probably the most banned and prosecuted books in history (according to wiki). I have to say I wasn't tempted, even at 1 € !!
That is a superb line. Some of the linguistic talent could (this is only a "maybe") be down to the speed (or lack of) of transport then. If soldiers were on a campaign, much as the stone masons helping with cathedrals etc, they would be in a location for months or longer which would help with the 'lingo'. I do think the reading of Voltaire, as you say, could be poetic licence as its best. Some may have had difficulty reading English, let alone French.
Valerie,
Whether it was him and his accent or the script the series had some memorable dialogue e.g
Sharpe to French Officer: Voltaire wrote that God is not on the side of the big battalions but with those who are the best shots. Officer: You said you didn't speak French. Sharpe: I lied.
Sharpe and his Chosen Men were avid readers of Voltaire and I assume it was in French. I found it incredible that at time when there was no universal even primary education and from a nation known for its inability to speak foreign languages that so many common soldiers could not only read but read French. Perhaps it was poetic licence and certainly doesn't harm the plot.
Now a spoof I could definitely read. I wonder if I'd have to read the original first though to make the comparison. That would be unfortunate.
Right, so 50 Shades is definitely on the list. It seems almost the polar opposite to Snow White and a quick game of chess so that leaves a cavern of opportunity for other items to go in the banned bin. If we were to include tv, I'd also say Harry Hill and Keith Lemon.
My mum hid a copy of Lady C in her hankerchief drawer, so I got to read it fairly young and just found it boring...however, I did appreciate D.H. Lawrence later when we had to study him for A level English Literature.
I'll "drink" to that.... water of course ha ha
Do as I say not do as I do seems to be their general philosophy of life; why is it OK to drink mead and honey-based drinks and not the "liquid of the grape"??? Daft.
There is a wonderful spoof called 50 shades of Grey hair!!! can't find the link but it is far better (I think, having never read the original - everyone who has says its repetitive text over and over again drives you mad, let alone the drivel content not even worth of a Mills and Boon) There are a number of wonderfully written spoofs of this book which of course must be banned by Quatar anyway ha ha,
That is a bit unfair on the Dark Ages which were much more civilised and liberal than is often assumed.
One rule for one ... I wonder which little figure he prefers? The dog? Boot? Car probably.
I used to love the televised Sharpe series. Of course, that could have been influenced by Sean Bean ...
Agreed - I was the one who used the word 'rubbish' in response to your last line mainly about them 'not being worth reading'
Re Barnaby Rudge I was responding to Sy Hughes.
As to public conscience and private morals, I think few public or even private figures would manage to get those aligned!
Yep, total hypocrisy as the Arabs are mad punters - check out who own many of the casinos!
Howard, yes indeed, quite a few would fall into that category - notoriety is great for book sales.
'Lady Chatterley's Lover' was probably the first I was aware of - taught me a lot about daisy chains I never knew!
What is interestng to me is that Iran and Saudi hate each other's guts (the old Sunni v Shia stuff again) yet seem to be paralleling each other's actions in this regard. Despair indeed.
Do read what I have written Norman. I didn't say they were rubbish. I made no comment on Dicken's social conscience although his own moral conscience wasn't so strong as to prevent him keeping a bit on the side. As to Barnaby Rudge there's nothing hard about it and no-one suggested as much least of all me
Incidentally, has Monopoly been banned in Saudi Arabia as well? If chess is a form of gambling, so are many other games... including camel racing.
If they were alive today and cynical enough the Brothers Grimm would wholeheartedly, in private of course, support the banning of one of their works as such measures are almost guaranteed to increase sales. No doubt the same will occur in Qatar.