First published in 1969, the humorous ripping yarn style story would surely never get published these days, which I found very refreshing. It's great to read a story unconstrained by modern political correctness. I found the storyline entertaining bit somewhat predictable and also found it hard to be very much concerned with the journey of the anti-hero who is unashamedly a liar, coward, cheat, misogynist, racist and imperialist! Another plus, is this historical fiction gives a good insight into the era and the events surrounding the first afghan war.
While this book is the first tin a 12 book series, I think one was all I will fi time to read. ( )

For starters, Harry Flashman is expelled from school as a drunken bully. After seducing his father's mistress, he begins a secret life that leads from the boudoirs and bordellos of Victorian England to the erotic frontiers of her exotic Empire. Along the way he lies, cheats, steals, fights fixed duels, betrays his country and proves a coward on the battlefield.

Let's face it: Flashman is not really a nice guy. He's a bully, a coward, a rapist, a racist and a drunk. His survival instinct means that he manages to get out of scrapes that can (and does) kill everyone around him. People around him mistake his cowardice, and resulting survival against all odds, as some form of heroism.

Kicked out of Rugby, and having been blackmailed from one regiment to the next after marrying one of his conquests, he ends up in Afghanistan in the late 19th century - at a time when the British are to make one of their more ignoble retreats back to India. Whole regiments are slaugtered around Flashman, due in no small part to the incompitence of the officers around him. [written in 1969, decades before 9/11, this is a fictional illustration of why the West will never win in Afghanistan and would be lucky to come out with a draw].

Did get a bit bored with the tediously long chapters and the constant battles, so not sure I'd like to read a sequel. ( )

Nihilistic pulp of limited merit or use. Knowledgeably & well enough written, but we read adventure novels notably for the vicarious delight of seeing a hero (= imagining ourselves) “take charge” against hostile situations which threaten him on the most existential level. So it’s *very* blue-balling & quickly repetitive - after some early chapters’ admitted amusement - to have patiently to read through the very opposite actions again & again.

Two satisfying exceptions: The snake pit, where the protagonist (having no choice) shows himself unusually resolute & lethal. & the ending, where he suffers some subtly crafted & humorous consequences for his overall behaviour via two final - cushy, but irreversibly humiliating - developments.

Still. Hardly time optimally spent, & I largely regret it. ( )

It was sheer coincidence that I read this only a few months after The Far Pavilions... For those unfamiliar with either of these books, they both deal with 19th century British army in India & Afghanistan. Flashman is involved in the first Anglo-Afghan war while Ashton Pelham-Martyn was present for the second Anglo-Afghan war; neither of them were typical British Army but otherwise they are quite different characters!!

Flashman could be called an anti-hero I suppose; he certainly describes himself that way, as a coward & scoundrel. His actions, particularly in regard to women, are awful but the reader can't help liking him. Perhaps it is because he is so open about all his weaknesses that one prefers him to the braver but stupider (or hypocritical) soldiers around him. In any case, as in Far Pavilions, the reader is left shaking his/her head at the incredible incompetence and arrogance of the leaders in the British army. ( )

What a fun read. This guy is a mess, not much about him to like, and quite a lot to despise. His story, though, is incredible and very entertaining. He's still an interesting character, huge flaws and all. I suppose this is somewhat like reading a story from the villain's perspective, although he's not quite a villain; he's certainly not the good guy, either. It's great to read the story from the POV of such a character, with the motivations and inner monologue to explain some of his behavior. The reader can see just how shameful of a person he is, and yet still want to follow his story. ( )