A couple of nights back I finished reading George McDonald Fraser’s 12th and last written novel in the Flashman series – Flashman and the March. This one covers the period 1867-68 and finds Flashman embroiled in the rescue of British hostages from the mad King Theodore in Abyssinia. In typical Flashman style the plot involves him in a series of scrapes out of which he always comes up smelling of roses having apparently put the needs of Queen and country before his own safety and completed various heroic deeds. The truth is, of course, that Flashman is a bit of a coward who always looks to save his own skin but somehow manages to bring about circumstances where others believe he has been selfless and heroic. Along the way Flashman always has at least one encounter with a powerful female character who, how can I put this, falls victim to his physical charms and this book is no exception.
I found Flashman on the March to be one of the weakest of the Flashman series. There simply isn’t enough action or complexity to the plot. Flashman goes on a long journey, meets woman companion (etc.), escapes from danger, falls into danger again, escapes, falls into more danger etc. etc. until eventually in the final battle everything resolves itself in the way that you know it always will and Flashman’s reputation is enhanced even further. Overall, this adventure is just a bit boring.
I now have only one more Flashman novel to read to complete the entire series, which spans his adventures from 1839 through to 1894. This is Flashman and the Tiger (the 11th title written) and is split into three parts including a final part, the actual Flashman and the Tiger story itself, which brings in Sherlock Holmes as a character which sounds like an interesting twist. Judging by the rate I have been getting through this series, alternating titles with all the other random books and fictional series that I am working through, I should be reading that one in perhaps 18-24 months time.
Tim O'Hare 