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    Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser Summary

    Flashman
    George MacDonald Fraser
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    Overview of Flashman

    Flashman: the scandalous Victorian memoir that fooled The New York Times reviewers into believing it was authentic. Follow literature's most beloved coward through 19th-century military disasters as he emerges an accidental hero. Written in just 90 hours, it launched Fraser's bestselling 12-book phenomenon.

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    Key Takeaways

    1

    A Victorian Scoundrel's Unwitting Heroism

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    Harry Flashman-coward, womanizer, opportunist, and accidental hero-finds himself thrust into one of history's most remarkable military campaigns. The year is 1868, and Britain has committed to an extraordinary mission: invading Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia) to rescue a handful of European hostages held by Emperor Theodore, a once-progressive ruler now descended into madness and cruelty. Through Flashman's cynical yet observant eyes, we witness this forgotten chapter of imperial history-a campaign that cost nine million pounds (billions in today's money) yet resulted in astonishingly few casualties. What drives this reluctant anti-hero isn't courage or patriotism but self-preservation and an uncanny knack for finding himself entangled in history's pivotal moments. His candid account strips away Victorian pretensions to reveal the messy realities behind imperial glory, offering insights both hilarious and profound about human nature when faced with danger, duty, and desire.

    2

    The Coward's Path to Africa

    3

    Abyssinia: Where Ancient Faith Meets Savage Custom

    4

    Theodore: From Visionary to Tyrant

    5

    The Impossible Campaign

    6

    The Secret Mission

    7

    Victory Without Glory