Adrián Astur Álvarez reviewed Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser
Review of 'Flashman' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
It took about 150 pages but this book eventually won me over. I had never heard of the series until an actor I used to serve coffee to recommended the first one to me. Since then I've discovered the Flashman series has quite a cult following. I think I can see why. At no point does Fraser relent in portraying the main character as anything more than a cowardly, narcissistic, misogynist, bullying jerk. Yet, somehow you end up liking him. Or maybe not liking him but you like watching him.
Granted, it took me a while to get on board. In one scene early on Flashman rapes a woman given to him by a Gilzai chieftan. Full blown rape, people. It was hard to recover from as a reader. In fact, the main "bad guy" in this novel hates Flashman because he and the woman are in love. There lies …
It took about 150 pages but this book eventually won me over. I had never heard of the series until an actor I used to serve coffee to recommended the first one to me. Since then I've discovered the Flashman series has quite a cult following. I think I can see why. At no point does Fraser relent in portraying the main character as anything more than a cowardly, narcissistic, misogynist, bullying jerk. Yet, somehow you end up liking him. Or maybe not liking him but you like watching him.
Granted, it took me a while to get on board. In one scene early on Flashman rapes a woman given to him by a Gilzai chieftan. Full blown rape, people. It was hard to recover from as a reader. In fact, the main "bad guy" in this novel hates Flashman because he and the woman are in love. There lies the trick of the novel. Though the "good guy" is most certainly a bad guy and the "bad guy" pretty well justified, the narrator (an older Flashman reflecting on his life) is so honest about his shortcomings and about how undeserving he is of his official heroic acclaim that you just sort of go along with him as an unlikable, racist, sexist, jit.
Aside from all of that, the historical accuracy and setting were compelling and Fraser can be a deft writer.
I do recommend the book but not without reservations. You have to know what you are getting into and you really can't be offended very easily. With all that in mind, if you are looking for an interesting, quick bit of entertainment you will probably enjoy this.
