Andrew
Harry Flashman is perhaps the least likable, most odious, and contemptible protagonist in any book I've ever read. His only saving grace is that he knows it and will tell you so himself.
The concept of the 12-part series The Flashman Papers is that after a long and storied career in Her Majesty's Service, General Sir Harry Paget Flashman has sat down to write his memoirs and reveal how every selfless and courageous act he has been credited with was in fact either lucky happenstance, misrepresented, or a deliberate falsification in order to increase his social standing. Over the course of the series he is a sort of Victorian era Forrest Gump, regularly interacting with real world figures and often finding himself central to the most important historical events of the day between 1839-1894.
This first story details his rise as a cavalry officer and his experiences during the disastrous retreat from Kabul in 1842 during the First Angle-Afghan War. Despite spending the majority of the book sucking up to his superiors, physically and sexually abusing his servants, and shirking his duty at every opportunity, he is publicly celebrated as the Hero of Afghanistan at the end of the story by virtue of being one of the only survivors and no one being around to dispute his version of events.
As I said at the beginning, the story is framed as an elderly Flashman finally coming clean and setting the record straight, marveling at what a stupid society would let someone like him rise to the top. I feel Flashman is best looked at as a satirical representation of British colonialism and imperial attitudes distilled down into one man: rapacious, vain, intolerant, violent, cowardly, hypocritical, and never, ever noble. If the books ever played it straight or expected you to take Flashman's side, I think the whole thing would fall apart.
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
Harry Flashman is perhaps the least likable, most odious, and contemptible protagonist in any book I've ever read. His only saving grace is that he knows it and will tell you so himself.
The concept of the 12-part series The Flashman Papers is that after a long and storied career in Her Majesty's Service, General Sir Harry Paget Flashman has sat down to write his memoirs and reveal how every selfless and courageous act he has been credited with was in fact either lucky happenstance, misrepresented, or a deliberate falsification in order to increase his social standing. Over the course of the series he is a sort of Victorian era Forrest Gump, regularly interacting with real world figures and often finding himself central to the most important historical events of the day between 1839-1894.
This first story details his rise as a cavalry officer and his experiences during the disastrous retreat from Kabul in 1842 during the First Angle-Afghan War. Despite spending the majority of the book sucking up to his superiors, physically and sexually abusing his servants, and shirking his duty at every opportunity, he is publicly celebrated as the Hero of Afghanistan at the end of the story by virtue of being one of the only survivors and no one being around to dispute his version of events.
As I said at the beginning, the story is framed as an elderly Flashman finally coming clean and setting the record straight, marveling at what a stupid society would let someone like him rise to the top. I feel Flashman is best looked at as a satirical representation of British colonialism and imperial attitudes distilled down into one man: rapacious, vain, intolerant, violent, cowardly, hypocritical, and never, ever noble. If the books ever played it straight or expected you to take Flashman's side, I think the whole thing would fall apart.
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.