Flashman on the March by George Macdonald Fraser

Volume twelve of the fictitious memoirs of Sir Harry Paget Flashman VC is as funny, bawdy and gloriously politicaly incorrect as the preceeding eleven.   Fraser's magnificent creation continues to reveal the truth behind his gilded reputation as a hero of Victorian England in that cynicaly droll style that makes this series of books a joy.
Flashman is desparate to get out of Trieste to avoid a squad of Prussian hardmen looking to administer retribution for his seducing a young noblewoman.   His old schoolfriend Speedicut, now a diplomat, asks him to convey half a million Maria Teresa dollars to Abyssinia to pay the army of Sir Robert Napier who is there to rescue British citizens held captive by the Emperor Theodore.   On arrival at Napier's camp instead of the fare back to England that Speedicut promised he finds himself recruited for a foray behind enemy lines.   Napier needs someone to travel to the south of the country to meet the Queen of the ferocious Gala tribe and persuade her to block Theodore's line of retreat.   His guide is to be the illegitimate half sister of the Queen, a beautiful young woman who is very soon sharing Flashman's blankets.   This, of course, does not prevent our hero leaving her to drown when it comes to saving his own neck.    The Queen of the Gala also proves suceptible to Flashman's charms but on the point of getting her agreement he is kidnapped by her sister who has survived the river.   She is on the point of revenging herself in a most painful manner when Theodore himself turns up with a squad of Amazons and Flashy is saved again.
Fraser's description of the battle of Magdala and Napier's victory against what should have been overwhelming odds reveals that not only is he an excellent writer but that the depth of his research would do credit to a professional historian.
Anyone who is of a mind to indulge in Flashman's adventures, that is anyone who enjoys a good chuckle, would be advised to start with volume one entitled simply "Flashman".   All of the series are still in print and if there is any justice writing of this quality will be in print for some time to come.