Product Description

The first instalment of the Flashman Papers sees the fag-roasting rotter from Tom Brown's Schooldays commence his military career as a reluctant secret agent in Afghanistan. Expelled from Rugby for drunkenness, and none too welcome at home after seducing his father's mistress, the young Flashman embarks on a military career with Lord Cardigan's Hussars. En route to Afghanistan, our hero hones his skills as a soldier, duellist, imposter, coward and amorist (mastering all 97 ways of Hindu love-making during a brief sojourn in Calcutta), before being pressed into reluctant service as a secret agent. His Afghan adventures culminate in a starring role in that great historic disaster, the Retreat from Kabul.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2965 in Books
• Published on: 1999-02-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Review
'If ever there was a time when I felt that watcher-of-the-skies-when-a-new-planet stuff, it was when I read the first Flashman' P.G. Wodehouse

Synopsis
The first instalment of the Flashman Papers sees the fag-roasting rotter from Tom Brown's Schooldays commence his military career as a reluctant secret agent in Afghanistan. Expelled from Rugby for drunkenness, and none too welcome at home after seducing his father's mistress, the young Flashman embarks on a military career with Lord Cardigan's Hussars. En route to Afghanistan, our hero hones his skills as a soldier, duellist, imposter, coward and amorist (mastering all 97 ways of Hindu love-making during a brief sojourn in Calcutta), before being pressed into reluctant service as a secret agent. His Afghan adventures culminate in a starring role in that great historic disaster, the Retreat from Kabul.

About the Author
The author of the famous Flashman Papers and the Private McAuslan stories, George MacDonald Fraser has worked on newspapers in Britain and Canada. In addition to his novels he has also written numerous screenplays, most notably The Three Musketeers, The Four Musketeers, and the James Bond film, Octopussy.

Customer Reviews

Believe the hype.
I'd heard of the legendary Flashman, and thought I'd give this book a whirl just to see what the fuss was about. Glad I did, it's excellent.

Romp through parallel history.
The fact that Flashman turns up at every major milepost of Victorian British Empire, galloping his ladies and fleeing danger at every opportunity, suggests something of a farce. This author, however is an impeccable writer - he does what other writers struggle to achieve. Subtle, seamless, superb storytelling and then of course the most difficult skill - comedy.

You will read this book and you will laugh out loud, again and again. I myself havent laughed like this reading a book since Martin Amis' Money. Its such a highly entertaining series that it really is a pity there isnt more. This author should have been more famous and given more accolades.

Read this book!

Audio CD Version
Excellent book of course. I'd just like to add how well it transfers to Audio CD - thorougly enjoyable.