Point of View

Author George MacDonald Fraser uses 91-year-old Sir Harry Flashman, retired as a Brigadier-General from the British Army early in the 20th century, as a memoir-writer reviewing a long and seemingly illustrious career. Fraser purports to be no more than a technical editor who also adds historical and cultural endnotes to help the reader. The "Flashman Papers" are said to have been discovered late in 1966 by the family and given to Fraser to prepare for publication. This cache follows Flashy's adventures in India, told in "Flashman and the Great Game" and covers events in 1858-59.

Flashy assumes that readers are familiar with his exploits, ranging over his entire career and reminding them continually of how his reputation as an intrepid hero is at odds with reality. Somehow something always seems to come along to put him in harm's way. Flashy readily admits to crippling fear and following...