Point of View

Author George MacDonald Fraser uses the octogenarian Harry Flashman, retired as a Brigadier-General from the British Army early in the 20th century, reviewing a long and seemingly illustrious career. Fraser claims to be just a technical editor who also adds historical and cultural endnotes to help the reader. The present novel is the second part of the cache of "Flashman Papers," discovered late in the 20th century by Fraser. It portrays Flashy's unintentional involvement in international slave trade in 1848-49.

Flashy assumes that readers are familiar with his exploits, often skipping forward beyond the 1840s, and reminds 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 the impulse to flee danger. He also admits that things rarely turn out...