Many romance readers enjoy historical fiction like Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond Chronicles and Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey Maturin series (both series were reviewed at AAR). The main characters in those books may act the anti-hero at times, but they are ultimately true heroes. You can’t say that about Sir Harry Flashman, the protagonist of George MacDonald Fraser’s series of historical novels set during the height of the Victorian Empire. Flashy is the worst sort of cad, as he would tell you himself, and never reforms. While I like my heroes to be heroic as much as the next romance fan, I have a big soft spot in my heart for Flashy, but I’d never let him know it – he’d probably sell me into a harem or some such trick.

In Tom Brown’s School Days, the British boy’s book by Thomas Hughes, the villain of the piece is Harry Flashman. Harry is a liar, cheat, bully, coward, braggart and comes to a bad end, being soundly defeated by the noble and clean living Tom Brown. Now, if Thomas Hughes had written a sequel featuring the further adventures of Flashman, he’d either have reformed and become a pillar of the establishment, or else sunk into debauchery and died in the gutter. But George MacDonald Fraser picked up the character and uses him as the center of some of the best historical novels ever written.

Harry has a few (very few) good qualities. He is handsome, charming, a fabulous horseman, and blessed with a gift for learning all kinds of languages. He ends up married to the lovely and wealthy Elspeth (at the point of her father’s gun), and finds himself a member of Her Majesty’s army. Harry’s talent for languages and his propensity for being at the wrong place at the wrong time lands him in almost every major battle of the late 19th century. Harry has been in the Anglo-Afghan War, the Indian Mutiny, the Charge of the Light Brigade, the Battle at Little Big Horn, John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry and more. Lest you think that Flashy is some kind of abolitionist, he has also served on a slave ship. It was Harry Flashman who got the Prince of Wales in trouble at the Tranby Croft house party, and it was one of his adventures that gave Anthony Hope the idea for The Prisoner of Zenda.

All through the books, Harry snivels, whines, lies, cheats, and bullies; he commits each of the seven deadly sins yet manages to come out of every situation as a hero. He ends up covered with glory, honor, medals, and titles, and even has Queen Victoria a little in love with him. Despite all his accomplishments and adultation, Harry Flashman is not the kind of man you want your son to chose as a role model. He is the very antithesis of a hero.

So why don’t I despise him? Because Harry knows he is a liar, cheater, bully and a coward and admits it. He admires a truly virtuous and brave man (knowing he is neither), but has no patience for poseurs. Flashman may not be a good man, but he is at least honest. All the books are told in the first person, and he comes across so vividly and so full of life, that the reader can’t help but like the old reprobate. However, if you are an admirer of political correctness or are easily offended, these books will raise your blood pressure. Harry is not in the least sensitive toward anyone and insults people of every race, creed and nationality.

The historical background in these books is meticulous and accurate and the endnotes are fascinating to read. I read my first Flashman title, Flashman At The Charge, back in 1973, and before I realized that women weren’t supposed to like the novels, I was happily looking forward to all of them. If you have tender sensibilities, Harry Flashman is not your man. But if you love history, or rousing adventure stories or have a sneaking fondness for unrepentant cads, I think you will enjoy the adventures of Sir Harry Flashman.