The seventh entry in the Flashman series is two books in one. The book picks up where [[ASIN:0452260892 Flash for Freedom! (Flashman)]] ended. It’s 1849 and Flash is in New Orleans, on the run from the law. He reacquaints himself with Susie Wilnick, a local madam who is moving her brothel west to join the flood of Forty Niners heading to California. Flash marries – again – but even at great personal risk he cannot help his roving eyes...and hands and so forth.

He leaves Susie along the west (and in order to take his leave, he commits a deed that is shameful even by Harry Flashman’s standards.) He then begins a wild trip across the Old West, even living with Apaches for awhile (where he weds yet again). Along the way, the reader meets many historical characters including Spotted Tail, John Joel Glanton, Mangas Coloradas, Geronimo, and Kit Carson. One of the more interesting historical bits involves Bent’s Fort and its mysterious destruction. Harry was there and resolves the mystery.

As always Fraser deflates the mythology surrounding historical figures. This characteristic debunking is a bit odd because Fraser believed the mythology about his own army and his own war, the Indian 17th Division of the British Army fighting in Burma during the last months of World War Two (See his war memoir [[ASIN:1602391904 Quartered Safe Out Here: A Harrowing Tale of World War II]]).

Flashman manages to escape the Apaches and returns to England. In Part Two, Elspeth, his ‘real’ English wife convinces Harry to return to the States, which introduces us to even more historical figures and eventually lands Harry right in the midst of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. I found the first part more entertaining and the ending was more than a bit of stretch.

Fraser is a marvelous story teller and as he spins out his entertaining tales one also picks up a good deal of history. The reader should exercise caution in accepting Fraser’s history. His version tends to be based on older sources and he eschewed more modern works (and certainly rejected modern viewpoints). Enjoy it for what it is: well-told speculations on historical mysteries. While some will be offended by Flashman’s views on women, Indians, Africans, and other people of color, in fairness, he also did not generally hold other white men in high regard, perhaps because Harry knew what a scoundrel he was himself. ( )

http://www.lonelymountain.net/books/s... ( )

See my review of all the Flashman books: http://jzsbooks.blogspot.com/2008/07/... ( )

I recently acquired four of the Flashman novels all at once. It was the first I'd heard of them, and since this one came chronologically first in the four that I have, it's been my introduction to the series. I thought it great fun...highly humorous, well-researched and well-written. I admit, though, about three-quarters through I was anxious for it to be finished...I think I would have liked it better had the two halves of the story been two seperate books, despite their direct relevance to each other. I'm excited to eventually tackle another...but hope I won't find it quite as...dragging.