Royal Flash (The Flashman Papers)

First of all, if you've never heard of the Flashman Papers please investigate. This is my second favorite series of books to read while lazing in the sun (the first is Patrick O'Brian's). What I love about these books in general, and Royal Flash in particular is Fraser's stunning ability to push his disreputable hero forward with plot that feels like the best of any tent-pole movie franchise. Sword fights, torture, mistaken identity (here, ol' Flashy reboots Anthony Hope's Prisoner of Zenda), fist fights, historical figures (Otto Von Bismark and Lola Montez in this one), a castle siege during a coup d'etat... BOOZE, SEX, VIOLENCE YOU GET IT ALL.

I'm bewildered Hollywood hasn't snatched this series up already especially considering Hollywood is exactly where I discovered these novels. True story, I used to work at a high end cafe in Santa Monica where I was friendly with Graham McTavish (big guy in every action film you've ever seen, look him up. He's great!). Well one day he came in holding a dogeared copy of Flashman that looked like it had been read many times over and in fact it had. He introduced me to the Flashman papers and told me it was a series he read through frequently from beginning to end. Well I tried the first and came away a little put off by all the good natured rape but as soon as I figured out Harry Flashman is a character I do not have to like in order to enjoy I unlocked a series of novels that has given me so much pleasure because not only are they truly fantastic adventure stories but the writing is deceptively good. Fraser manages to erase himself almost entirely in plots so well constructed they allow you to root against the hero, laughing at his failures while thrilling in his successes (however accidental) as you barrel down a narrative slope through to a satisfying finish.

These are so fun and Royal Flash is among the best of them.