Sex

Sex flows as a continuous undercurrent through Flashman at the Charge, with the degree of explicitness growing throughout the novel. Narrator Harry Flashman, writing in his eighties, recalls all his lovers fondly, having seduced and been seduced in many ways. Among the conquests about which he brags is Queen Victoria. Nevertheless, Flashy remains physically attracted to his wife of 14 years, the comely if dim-witted Elspeth, whom he suspects is as unfaithful as he, but is never caught until he finds her with his archenemy, Lord Cardigan. Elspeth convinces Flashy that Cardigan has surprised her and for the second time in the novel, they enjoy make-up sex.

Flashy clearly frequents prostitutes whenever he feels a need, but retains a bit of Victorian priggishness when the young Prince William of Celle demands to visit a brothel and becomes enamored of a particular lady. When Willy dies in battle, he wears...