Book review - "Flashman" by George MacDonald Fraser

The first entry in this series remains a lively, energetic piece of work full of hilarious lines and acid satire - it's hard to believe the author who turned into such a Blimp in the last decade of his life could be so vicious and satirical about the British Empire, the incompetence of the way it was run and fought for, the imperial types that abounded. Pretty much everyone is sent up mercilessly (and no doubt accurately): Elphinstone (the head of the army in Afghanistan), General Cotton, Lady Sale, General Sale, Lord Cardigan, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, the Scots, army officers, Sekundar Burnes, McNaughten, etc. The only people who don't get a hiding really are the Duke of Wellington and Colin McKenzie.

It's brilliantly lively and inventive - Flashman's escapes from Gul Shah are thrilling, the disintegration and collapse of the British army is scary and harrowing, it's clever how he gets out of the duel (there is a lot of genuine wit). There are some nasty bits - Flashman hits one woman and rapes another, which is a bit full on, even if she does try to lop his bit off later (rape was very popular in racy fiction, esp films, in the late 60s). It has a bittersweet finale with Flashman earning fame and thanks but realising his wife is probably unfaithful. There were better entries in the series but this was a great start.