Harry Flashman: the unrepentant bully of Tom Brown's schooldays, now with a Victoria Cross, has three main talents - horsemanship, facility with foreign languages, and fornication.

A reluctant military hero, Flashman plays a key part in most of the defining military campaigns of the 19th century, despite trying his utmost to escape them all.

Flash Harry is back! The first new Flashman novel since Flashman and the Angel of the Lord, this is the long-awaited new installment of the Flashman Papers.

When Sir Harry Flashman, V. C., the celebrated Victorian soldier, scoundrel, amorist, and self-confessed poltroon's memoirs first came to light 30 years ago, the world was finally illuminated about what became of the celebrated cowardly bully from Tom Brown's schooldays.

Now, in addition to the other famous adventures of Flash Harry contained in the Flashman Papers, come three new episodes in the career of this eminent if disreputable adventurer. The title piece touches on two of the most spectacular military actions of the century and sees Flashman pitted against one of the greatest villains of the day and observing, with his usual jaundiced eye, two of its most famous heroes.

As always with George MacDonald Fraser, Flashman's adventures are related with verve, dash, and meticulous historical detail.