I loved Flashman as a youth, so I was a little concerned that a later reading might somehow diminish the memories I had of him. I needn't have worried though. Flashies brutally honest assessment of his own and others' characters allied to his great luck, cowardice and a finely-honed sense of self-preservation mean that his place is safe in the pantheon of great literary characters. And some wonderful footnotes for the discerning connoisseur as well . . .
(Clive Yelf - bwl 62 Autumn 2011 ) |
