Which is the best Flashman? Common candidates include Great Game and at the Charge and you could make an argument for Redskins but in terms of sheer fun, craft and adventure I'd put in a vote for this one. It feels written by someone at his peak in command of his ability having a time of his life.
The structure of this is more choppy - it's three parts, really, cricket, Borneo and Madagascar - but has extra resonance/pace because Elspeth, normally a supporting character, is involved so much more. I mean it's not as though Fraser gives her much more of a dimension - she's mostly comic still - but her presence gives the action greater flavour. It also increases the stakes since Flashman is forced to be brave.
He really goes through the wringer with this one - getting into a bookmakers scandal with the cricket section (there's a brilliant single wicket game sequence which shows off Fraser's tremendous skill at writing sporting contests, and I loved it how Flashman is faced with an angry duke, bookmaker and a bet), then has a luxury cruise but pays for it in Singapore with an attempt on his life (though who organised it?) and the raid in Borneo, then is topped by his adventures in Madagascar.
The action and descriptions are first rate - the jungles of Borneo, Lords, cricket pubs, the dullness of Singapore - but what you're most likely to remember are the characters: dashing but annoying James Brooke, Ranavalova the horny despot queen, the cricketers. The fictional ones are good too like Don Solomon (though he is based on a real people).
An excellent entry.
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