Point of View

Author George MacDonald Fraser uses octogenarian Harry Flashman as a memorialist reviewing a long and seemingly illustrious career. Fraser claims to be a technical editor who adds historical and cultural endnotes to help the reader. The present novel is the eighth part of the cache of "Flashman Papers" discovered late in the 20th century by Fraser. This one has been edited, soon after Flashy's death in 1915, by his prudish sister-in-law, Grizel de Rothschild, who censors swear words and appends to many chapters extracts from Elspeth Flashman's journal that clarify the current action.

Flashy assumes that readers are familiar with his exploits both before and after the current action, and reminds them often of how his reputation as a soldier is at odds with reality. Flashy readily admits to crippling fear and following the impulse to flee danger. In this novel, having to get Elspeth out of...