Flashman and the Mountain of Light

Flashman Papers #9

by George MacDonald Fraser

Coward, scoundrel, lover and cheat, but there is no better man to go into the jungle with. Join Flashman in his adventures as he survives fearful ordeals and outlandish perils across the four corners of the world.


The British Empire needs a man to satisfy insatiable lust and indulge in ungentlemanly acts – fortunately it has Harry Flashman. And with the mighty Sikh army poised to invade India, Flashman must go back into secret service and this time contend with the intrigues of the Court of Punjab.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Humor, Adventure, Comedy, India

400 pages, Paperback

First published March 27, 1990

About the author

George MacDonald Fraser is best known for his Flashman series of historical novels, purportedly written by Harry Flashman, a fictional coward and bully originally created by Thomas Hughes in Tom Brown's School Days. The novels are presented as "packets" of memoirs written by the nonagenarian Flashman, who looks back on his days as a hero of the British Army during the 19th century. The series begins with Flashman, and is notable for the accuracy of the historical settings and praise from critics. P.G. Wodehouse said of Flashman, “If ever there was a time when I felt that ‘watcher-of-the-skies-when-a-new-planet’ stuff, it was when I read the first Flashman.”

Reviews

[Jane Jago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aside from the obvious attraction of such a very unheroic hero, the sheer fun, the pace of the storytelling, and the excellence of the writing there's no reason to read this book!

IMHO George MacDonald Fraser is right up there.

Give it a go if you want some proper entertainment

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was frankly not looking all that forward to this book; while I do love Flashman, here he is yet again in India (or at least the Northwest Frontier), which honestly just annoys me, since there are so many other great stories Fraser could have told instead, ALL of which are alluded to (but then left hanging) in one or another of the other books — Civil War Flashman at Gettysburg, Chancellorsville and marching with Sherman; Flashy with Maximillian in Mexico, or in the Sudan, or as part of the Boxer Rebellion or Australian Gold Rush…For that matter, and having recently watched the excellent movie "Black '47," it would be fascinating to see what Fraser did with Flashman in Ireland in the mid-1800s, (although God knows what humor ANYONE would be able to find in that situation — likewise for the potential for Flashman with Stanley in the Congo, although they do seem like diabolically kindred spirits).

So yeah, low expectations going in here; but I do really want to eventually read Flashman In The Great Game, which is apparently the ultimate "Flash in India" story, and which at least chronologically takes place after this story (although Fraser wrote it earlier)...and so I decided I really should wade through this one first, even though it deals with an episode of British colonial history of which I had zero knowledge and equally non-existent interest.

And sure enough, the first half of the story is surprisingly dull, with Flashman sent to Lahore as a political officer where he…just kind of hangs around, occupying himself mainly with court intrigue and the occasional (and obligatory) exotic fling. But THEN — once the Sikh War actually begins in the second half of the book, it is just spellbinding. The descriptions of the battles of Ferozeshah and Sobraon — neither of which I'd ever heard of — are some of the finest combat writing I've read in a long time, either fiction or non-fiction.* And the ending — like, literally the last two words, "Here, catch!" — is just perfect.

A few other general comments:

- As with many of the Flashman books (as well as in my other recent read, Omdurman), the names get really confusing unless you're a history major to begin with; British officers/generals Havelock, Gough, Hardinge, Broadfoot...and don't even get me started on all the various Singhs.

- And also as with the other books, Fraser works in numerous real-life characters; in this case the absolutely out of place yet absolutely real Americans, Alexander Gardner and Josiah Harlan. Much as Fraser depended heavily on Alan Moorehead's The Blue Nile when writing Flashman on the March, he relies extensively here on Gardner's writings, which sadly I haven't been able to track down anywhere. There is, however, an interesting-looking biography on him, The Tartan Turban: In Search of Alexander Gardner, (which equally sadly is pretty pricey on Amazon, so I'll keep an eye out for it used somewhere). There's also a more famous bio on Harlan, The Man Who Would Be King: The First American in Afghanistan, which has already been on my TBR list for some time, so will have to move it up a few notches.**

- The battles here — which for a change, Flashman observes largely from a distance — highlight just how colorful "large set piece" warfare was at the time, with each unit wearing wildly different uniforms and carrying various pennants and standards so that generals could monitor their chessboard-like movements from afar; makes me want to take another look at An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Military Uniforms of the 19th Century, which I thought I had borrowed from our local library, but which— sadly again — doesn't seem to be there anymore.

- It was interesting to see the difference between military and political officers here, and in what little regard the "politicals" were generally held by the military at large. But that's mainly because the role of the political officers was one of diplomacy — i.e., AVOIDING war — while the military (at least as described here) was just aching to GO TO war, since that was, in fact, their main raison d'être. ***

- And finally (yes, finally), I'm starting to realize that Flashman may not be quite the cowardly anti-hero he describes himself as; that much of his self-portrayal may to an extent be more typical — if exaggerated — British self-deprecation, since when it comes down to it, he is in fact quite a competent soldier, strategist, etc.

Anyway — ultimately much better than I expected, and so a general 3+ stars, but rounded way up for the surprising second-half turnaround.
__________________________________

* In part because, what with all the humor, sex and historical research, it's easy to forget just what a fine writer Fraser is — with the notable exception of his screenplay for the execrable "Octopussy"...seriously, WTF was that all about? Well, probably money.

** Many historians believe Harlan was indeed Kipling's model for Daniel Dravot in both his famous short story and the Connery/Caine movie of the same name. I also own a different and charmingly offbeat book on Harlan called An American Player of the Great Game, published in Pakistan and in fact written by a now-local friend of mine, Khan Idris (also charmingly offbeat), which I really should get around to as well.

*** This also helped me better understand the fractious relationship between Francis Younghusband — serving as the political during his 1904 mission to Tibet — and General James Macdonald, the military commander of the expedition.

[Nigeyb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm slowly working my way through George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman series in chronological order (rather than order of publication), and so have came to Flashman and the Mountain of Light.

You probably don’t need me to tell you that Flashman is a racist, scoundrel, bully, cad and coward, however thankfully Flashy is also an engaging storyteller who has the happy knack of being an active participant in the middle of momentous historical events.

Flashman and the Mountain of Light is another epic, entertaining saga featuring everyone's favourite Victorian racist scoundrel. This time round it's 1845 and the First Anglo-Sikh war. The mighty Sikh army is poised to invade India so Flashy is enlisted into the secret service and the intrigues of the Court of Punjab.

There's plenty of sex, drunkenness and debauchery, in addition to George MacDonald Fraser's now customary insights into different cultures, real personalities and actual historical events. The research is, as always, extraordinary.

Flashman and the Mountain of Light has a setting full of treasure, spectacular levels of treachery, and a wonderful supporting cast which includes the lascivious Jeendan, reckless Americans Gardner and Harlan, and Raja Goolab Singh.

Next up 'Flash for Freedom'.

4/5

There are 12 books in the series:

Flashman (1969)
Royal Flash (1970)
Flash for Freedom! (1971)
Flashman at the Charge (1973)
Flashman in the Great Game (1975)
Flashman's Lady (1977)
Flashman and the Redskins (1982)
Flashman and the Dragon (1985)
Flashman and the Mountain of Light (1990)
Flashman and the Angel of the Lord (1994)
Flashman and the Tiger (1999)
Flashman on the March (2005)

This is the series in chronological order:

Flashman (1839–42)
Royal Flash (1842–43)
Flashman's Lady (1842–45)
Flashman and the Mountain of Light (1845–46)
Royal Flash (1847–48)
Flash for Freedom! (1848–49)
Flashman and the Redskins (1849–50)
Flashman at the Charge (1854–55)
Flashman in the Great Game (1856–58)
Flashman and the Angel of the Lord (1858–59)
Flashman and the Dragon (1860)
Flashman on the March (1867–68)
Flashman and the Redskins (1875–76)
The Road to Charing Cross (1878)
Flashman and the Tiger (1879)
The Road to Charing Cross (1883–84)
The Subtleties of Baccarat (1890 & 1891)
Flashman and the Tiger (1894)

[Julien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Flashman, but any Flashy is better than none.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ripping yarn. Sped through it in two days, licked my chops, and wanted to reach for the next episode. This is the third in the series I've read, and once again I'm in awe of the depth of GMF's scholarship and ability to insert Flashy plausibly into the most implausible circumstances. I'd read some other accounts peripheral to this book, most notably The Man Who Would Be King: The First American in Afghanistan by Ben Mcintyre, but otherwise remained more or less blissfully ignorant of the main event in question, the first Anglo-Sikh War of 1845-46. Ever wonder how that admirable warrior race, the Sikhs, came to be among the British Raj's most faithful troops? Well, this volume went a long ways towards explaining it.

Along the way are GMF's usual cast of incredibly colorful -- and even more impressively, historical - characters, including a power-hungry nymphomaniac rani (Jind Kaur, whom Flashman calls "Jeendan"), not one but two American adventurers (Josiah Harlan and Alexander Gardner), and the sort of warts-and-all portraits of the British command (Hugh Gough, Henry Hardinge, et al.) we've come to expect of GMF.

The footnotes are an amateur historians delight, and it's just about all I can do not to hare off to find copies of such promising references as Lady Sale's Journal of the Disasters in Affghanistan, for one. And where did GMF come up with such a command of the native terms of abuse and odd bits of market palaver? Hobson-Jobson? Mined from contemporary accounts? Whatever the case, it was delightful.

One note of disappointment (nothing to do with the book per se, mind you): I had wanted to link to a romping good website I'd once found devoted to Flashman, which included with plot synopses and reams of Flashman trivia, but all that seems to remain these days is the Wikipedia entry --- most others have been shut down or disappeared, presumably under legal duress rather than for lack of stamina. It's a pity, as some of them were quite entertaining.

Ah, well; there are always the books. And that's what counts, ain't it?

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Más bellaquerías de nuestro querido bellaco.-

Género. Novela (y a su manera, al fondo, casi novela histórica llena de ficción).

Lo que nos cuenta. Nueva entrega de las memorias de nuestro antihéroe sin escrúpulos favorito, que al haber sido “encontradas” en desorden no siempre siguen una línea temporal, por lo que en esta ocasión nos lleva a las aventuras que le condujeron al Punjab a mediados del siglo XIX, a la guerra sij y a entrar en contacto con el famoso diamante Koh-i-noor. Cuarto libro de la serie de Harry Flashman.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Sarbjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew that Sikh history could be full of sex drugs and rock & roll.

[Ensiform · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this volume, we find Flashy in the Punjab in 1845, witnessing and spying in the first Sikh War (or Rebellion, if you look at it from the British view). Reading so much Cornwell for the past year made me forget just how good Fraser is. Cornwell is good, certainly — but this is highly detailed, thoroughly researched historical fiction, managing to be both more of a dramatic page-turner and more erudite than any Sharpe book. I’ve commented before on Flashy’s growing heroism, and nowhere is it more apparent than in this book, where Flash does actual service to the crown, and is even allowed at the end a bit of real one-upsmanship. Of course, as he notes, it’s ironic that he gets rewarded for his cowardice, and disdained for something close to skill and bravery in the line of duty.

[Juan Antonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me estoy enganchando con estas aventuras de Flashman y es que aunque el tipo es un impresentable, está metido en todos los fregados del ejército inglés durante el siglo XIX, de actos y guerras que para mí son casi desconocidas. Además libros amenos de leer.

[Jesse Toldness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to be honest, this is quite possibly my favorite of the Flashman books so far. The only possible criticism here is that the supporting players, the lascivious Jeendan, the mad Americans Gardner and Harlan, old Goolab Singh, and the setting, full of Grand War and Ancient Treasures and Deep Treachery, almost threatens to overshadow old Flashy, who is in a land so crooked that it's all Our Harry can do just to keep up.

Rollicking good read anyway.

[Stephen Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Flashman gets roped in to India in 1845, just in time to witness yet another attempt to kick out the English. George MacDonald Fraser uses real event, this time the First Anglo-Sikh War. Of course there is a women in power for Flashman to hook up with, along with in maid in waiting. All the while trying to stay as far away from the fighting as possible, only to have the war sneak up on him. Another fine audio edition of a Flashman novel narrated by the brillant David Case.

[வானதி வானதி · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why Flashman is so much fun to read? Probably because he is such a scoundrel who will sell his mother to save his hide and will boast about it as well? or is it because he is so much charming in his villainy that it is irresistible (to the ladies, anyway!) Here he is fresh from his ordeals in Madagascar and lands in the middle of the First Anglo-Sikh war and all the intrigues it involved. The old hands from the Afghan war are here, Broadfoot, Havelock, Sale etc with some more newer ones ready to start the fight to complete the conquest of India. As G.M.Fraser mentions in the footnotes, it is fascinating to see the same names of British officers and generals popping up all around during the initial growth of the Empire and no doubt, the British Empire can be said to be built by these handful of guys. Flashman provides a character study of each of these guys in his own way, ends up in the durbar of Lahore and meets the 'Messalina' of India. There is intrigue everywhere, treason, generals conspiring to lose and much more. An interesting side story is Raja Goolab Singh in the middle of action trying to become the king of Kashmir. While Flashman gallops in the middle of action everywhere (it is his memoirs anyway!), he lands himself with the Koh-i-noor and finally transfers it to the Governor-General. Another foot note of interesting story is about the Punjabi general, Gurdana Khan, a.k.a Alexander Gardner of Wisconsin, leading the queen's body guards and Dr. Josiah Harlan, a.k.a Jassa, the man who would be King (of Afghanistan, of course). The Americans, a German prince, the Sikhs and the British themselves prove that there is the world at stake here in that deadly war fought by the Khalsa led by its inept generals. What is mind-boggling (for me, at least) is the amount of foot notes the book has and except Flashman, the entire book is full of people who actually played the part in the war which actually happened. That is probably all the more reason for loving it. While Flashman is fiction, the rest is history.
Thus, the book introduces so much of information to process and take in. Each of these people have written memoirs, travelogues etc and there are references to it all along the book and the to-be-read list of books just keep on increasing. I think, that in essence, is why Flashman is so much interesting to read. That and the antics of Flashman of course. With his ready wit and absolute cowardliness, he is charming and irresistible.

[Edoardo Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rereading the Flashman novels in chronological order (the first time round I read them in writing order). So it's interesting to read this one, dealing with Flashie's misadventures in the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1845/46, as the fourth novel in the series whereas before I read it as the ninth.

I do think it doesn't quite have the freshness and verve of the early Flashman novels, nor their capacity to surprise. In the first novels, Flashman really was a cad and a scoundrel but by the time Fraser wrote this one, there was a sense in which Flashman had become the hero; rhetorically he might argue that he did the right thing only through force of circumstance and the desire not to be found out, but in the adventures here, a true coward could have found a way to absent himself without too much difficulty, particularly since Flashman spends most of the book operating behind enemy lines as, in effect, a secret agent.

The research is, as ever, superb although naturally inclined towards the most salacious takes on the people involved - although Maharani Jind Kaur is one of those 19th century rulers that were too vivid to endure into the prosaic 20th century - and Flashie, of course, is pressed into service with her.

For 99 per cent of writers of historical fiction, this would be a novel at the absolute top of their game. For George MacDonald Fraser, it's slightly down on his best Flashman work.

[Clint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though not the greatest in the Flashman series, it is definitely a worthwhile read. Once again Fraser's craven hero(stolen from Tom Brown's School Days) finds himself in the soup during the Sikh wars. He lies, cowers, begs, toadies, and fornicates his way to glory.

The Flashman series kicks English colonialism and heroism firmly in the nads. Not a bad history lesson either.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the Flashman charm and adventure as usual, but for some reason this one didn't keep my interest as well. Think that had more to do with the historical setting for the story than the story itself. Fraser still lived up to his characteristic witty writing style and memorable zingers but on the whole this was one of my least favorite Flashman stories.

[Ac · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a number of the Flashman series books, and decided to pick this one only because it concerns India. Has some decent amount of historical information as most of the books do. I may want to read a history of the Koh-i-noor after reading this novel.

[Patrick\ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flashman is for the ages, as pointed out in this book. He is always at a pivotal point in history and helps make the turn, unwillingly and anadvertantly. The bad boy as man continues to make the best of reads in accurate historical settings. Don't miss Flashman.

[F.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some unknown reason I take great pleasure in reading Flashman on long train journies. I guess tales of cowardice in the Victorian age make the mundane trip go quicker. Sadly I only have a few more to go.

[Bernard Dogon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kicks ass, rollicking good read about an English officer who's a total bastard yet always lands with his ass in the butter... very funny, raunchy and educational, as the author always portrays him crucial historical events that changed history.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In which Flashman is remarkably brave much to his own suprise.

[Rina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this Flashman as much as the others I've read, because it contains a lot of military history--very much the schoolboy read, complete with gyrating Oriental orgies. Ahem.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully politically incorrect and more than a little naughty, I highly recommend this for the less-than-easily-offended among you.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know exactly what you’re getting in a Flashman novel. Harry Flashman - a racist, sexist, imperialist ruffian - with a surprising capability for introspection on his own failings (a device necessary for the narrative to move) as a a coward, toady and bully is off on a romp around the Victorian empire once more.

This time he is reminiscing about the liberation of the Koh-I-noor, ‘The Mountain of Light,’ the enormous diamond once sported by queen Victoria.

Any item with a history both as controversial and apocryphal as the Mountain of Light is a great starting point for a novel. And we have to remember that this is historical fiction, so GMF can essentially write whatever he wants here, provided of course Flashman is at all the important places during the set piece battles that are historically verifiable.

It’s only slightly surprising that the novel fails to deliver on both the thrills and its central premise then, as it is a slightly dull 250-ish pages that follow what should be a segue into a ripping story.

Why?

Well, it’s just not that interesting. Flashman is recruited as a Diplomat for England, and thrust into India at the commencement of the first Anglo - Sikh war. Ostensibly, he is there to try and recover a dowry, posing as a lawyer. But the lawyer premise is hairily discarded and barley returned to throughout the story (there is even a reference to it being forgotten about close to the end). While Flashman is trying to sow seeds of disaffection amongst the Sikh army, who are portrayed as extremely efficient and bloodthirsty, and ready to tear holes in the British, Flashman romps around India’s royal palaces, bonking everything in sight, and escaping why the skin of his teeth at nearly every occasion.

So it should be interesting then. And It has some charms: What I admire about GMFs writing is the speed he can get you into and describe the action, and make you feel as though you’ve seen it. True, it’s written in the ‘wizard wheeze’ style, namely that of 'Boys Own' - full of derring-do, and narrow escapes. So it’s hard to take the action too seriously. That said, when it comes, it’s easy to imagine; so I liked it for that. GMF’s writing is really a reminder of what you can do with few words - and how little you need to visualise a scene. He leaves you with nothing that is not compelling. That is quite a skill. His ability as a writer is also underscored in his extremely well formatted dialogue, which gives you what the speaker is saying AND Flashman's impressions of it at the same time. Doing that is no mean feat - he’s writing from the first person remember - putting essentially one character’s speech and another character’s impressions into an exchange of dialogue, and making it flow, without being confusing? That IS writing - his scriptmanship shines through.

I also admire the way that he details the sex scenes. GMF heeds Martin Amis’ advice on this topic - just tell us who was involved, how it went, and what it meant. It never came off as lewd, or tawdry, it just gave enough flesh to the character to portray Flashman as the bawdy reveller he is.

I like that GF manages to weave this story in with his other books in the series, including ones yet to be written. The character arc for Flashman must have been intricately laid out, or had at least enough possibilities for further exploration that you didn’t notice when earlier escapades that didn’t come off were referenced. Remember that although it comes chronologically earlier in the Flashman series, Flashman and The Mountain Of Light was one of the latter Flashman books written by GF, which makes this feat all the more impressive.

But writing aside when the plot comes its thin stuff - GMF is basically railroaded into making Flashman at least be at all the defining battles. He also manages to chuck in a narrow escape from torture, a narrow escape from (what turns out to be) his allies, and a narrow escape with the young prince Dalip Singh on horseback - only to be betrayed again, naturally. There are at least three double crosses in this book from Flashman’s perspective, and I got so fatigued reading them it was hard to concentrate or care any more about much of the contrived peril on offer. Yes, it has got to be there to keep up the rhythm of the book (which dashes along nicely, as it happens), but I just didn’t enjoy it.

The book ends when the Koh-i-noor, which has seemingly been forgotten - given to Flashman as a gift by Dalip Singh, as he knows it will be stolen - is presented to the British Lord Hardinge By Flashman as part of the defeated Indian army’s treaty terms. Dismissed by Hardinge earlier in the novel, Flashman revels in the schadenfreude he knows will come as he flings the diamond at Hardinge, allowing him to complete the treaty.

So contrived, formulaic, but still fun - and providing a History lesson on the way, it was a pleasant read, if not exactly a great one.

[Rob Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fraser’s Fading Flash: Flashman and the Mountain of Light

In Flashman and the Mountain of Light, George MacDonald Fraser continues the bawdy, irreverent adventures of his infamous antihero Harry Flashman, placing him at the heart of one of the British Empire’s most complex and morally fraught episodes: the First Anglo-Sikh War and the acquisition of the fabled Koh-i-Noor diamond. As always, Flashman’s unique perspective—a blend of cowardice, opportunism, and reluctant heroism—provides both comic relief and satirical commentary on the machinery of imperial conquest.

The novel is rich in historical detail, vividly portraying the grandeur and violence of 19th-century India. Fraser’s recreation of the political intrigues, cultural tensions, and brutal battlefield realities lends the narrative a strong sense of time and place. From palatial courts to military encampments, the story moves with energy through a kaleidoscope of exotic settings and perilous encounters. The backdrop is as much a character as Flashman himself, reinforcing the chaos and splendour of empire.

Flashman remains a compelling and paradoxical figure—detestable in his beliefs and behaviour, yet undeniably engaging. His voice, full of gallows humour, candid self-interest, and ruthless self-preservation, guides the reader through a world of colonial arrogance and cultural collision. His dishonesty and bigotry are laid bare, never excused, and often used to expose the hypocrisy of those around him. It is through Flashman's deeply flawed lens that the reader gains insight into the absurdity and cruelty of imperialism.

A standout feature of the novel is Fraser’s use of elaborate footnotes and asides, which blend fictional memoir with historical record. This device allows Fraser to simultaneously authenticate the narrative and maintain its comic and satirical edge. The reader is reminded that while Flashman is fictitious, the events he survives—and often shapes—are very real, lending the story an ironic tension between truth and exaggeration.

Despite its strengths, the novel shows some signs of wear. The plot, particularly in the first half, feels episodic and occasionally meandering. The pacing falters as Flashman drifts from one escapade to another without a clear narrative thrust until the war begins in earnest. Additionally, the treatment of female and non-European characters, even through the satirical filter of Flashman’s perspective, may strike modern readers as dated or uncomfortable. This is especially true when characters are reduced to caricature for comic or erotic effect.

Nonetheless, the novel regains momentum as it delves into the key events of the war, including the battles of Ferozeshah and Sobraon. Flashman’s interactions with historical figures and his inadvertent involvement in major political developments underscore the novel’s central conceit: that history is often shaped by those least deserving of influence. As Flashman stumbles through diplomatic intrigues and military disasters, the reader is treated to a sharply observed—if deeply cynical—account of how empires are made and unmade.

Flashman and the Mountain of Light may not reach the satirical brilliance of earlier entries in the series, but it remains an entertaining, insightful, and often outrageous read. It captures the contradictions of empire, the absurdity of heroism, and the enduring appeal of an antihero who always survives, not because he’s brave, but because he’s lucky—and shamelessly honest about it.

[Mike Futcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I won't pretend that I've ever needed leave to bolt. I hadn't been given the precious gift of life to cast it away in back alleys, brawling on behalf of fat rajas and randy widows, and I was going like a startled fawn and rejoicing in my youth…" (pg. 180)

Another great Flashman adventure – one of the best. We've had Flashman the scoundrel before, Flashman the lecherous, Flashman the lucky, Flashman the hilarious. This was all of those things and yet it was also something new: it was Flashman doing his duty. Of course, it helps that doing his duty demands, on this occasion, lechery, guile and other damned underhand things besides, including conspiring with a Sikh general to think of ways to lose a battle on purpose...

As ever, Mountain of Light displays all the great qualities that I've come to expect from the Flashman books. It involves a return to India, scene of Flashman's greatest adventures (in my opinion), and that country's uniquely indefinable spirit of exotic adventure acquits itself well here too. It even has as a fairly prominent character the real historical figure of Josiah Harlan, who was inspiration for Kipling's 'The Man Who Would Be King' and consequently for the 1975 film adaptation starring Michael Caine and Sean Connery – one of the best adventure films of all time (I'd put money on it being a favourite of Fraser's, too). There's a lot more espionage and intrigue than in previous books, as Flashman is serving as a diplomatic agent for British interests in the Punjab and doing it as only he can (hint: it involves bedding a voluptuous Indian queen).

It's also, as ever, cracking historical fiction. Fraser's Flashman books are exceptional at introducing us to events and campaigns of the Victorian era which don't figure prominently in the history books, and Mountain of Light is no exception. It gives a gripping account of the First Anglo-Sikh War, a peculiar and yet extremely violent war with all the trimmings: bloodthirsty enemies, incompetent commanders and stirring cavalry charges. And with the future of British India at stake, b'gad. Great ending too: "Catch!" It's ripping storytelling and a great experience. To appropriate the words of the Duke of Wellington (who knew Flashman for a scoundrel): By God! I don't think it would have done if I had not been there!

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the chronological sequence, but the ninth book published. It's interesting how the approach to the books has changed over time. The earlier books were more about the story. This later book has more in the way of historical validation. The footnotes and references are extensive and reasonably detailed. I'm not sure that I liked this. I was there for the story and all of this obiter dicta managed to get in the way.

There isn't much of a plot. Flashman is sent to India, he takes up with the political service because it appears safer, he is sent to the heart of the Sikh kingdom (Lahore) just as the First Sikh War erupts, and finds himself in a real stew. Of course, there is a voluptuous queen for him to liaise with and there are hordes of natives to thwart. This is very much a Boy's Own yarn. It's racist and misogynistic, so it wouldn't appeal to the easily shocked. However, despite all of that, I really liked the tale.

We worked our way through the twists an turns of the various plots in the Sikh Court to find that Flashman comes up trumps yet again. It's hard to see what he gains from his adventure. Perhaps that will be revealed in a later story? There are traces of the sequence running out of steam in this book. There are plenty of escapades, but the storyline was a bit thin. I am not sure if that reflects running out of steam, or the shift to a greater historical focus has slowed down the pace of plot development. That is something that I can find deeper into the sequence.

All in all, I enjoyed the book. It's not one of my favourites and it lacks a degree of freshness that is contained in volumes written earlier than this. Whether it is a pivotal volume remains to be seen. It could be a linking volume, or it could be a stand alone tale at the request of the publishers. We shall see.

[Mohammad Sabbir Shaikh · Rating 4 out of 5]

My third Flashman book. A truly fascinating novel, just like the other two. This is Harry Flashman's account of the Anglo-Sikh war, in which he was send as an inside man into the Sikh Empire. In this part of his memoir we learn about many interesting things, such as the intriguing story of Rani Jindan, the fate of her brother Jawaheer, the role of Lal Singh and Tej Singh, the commanders of Sikh Khalsa Army employed by the East India Company. It also tells us about the most famous and coveted gemstone in the world, the mountain of light, Kohinoor. Before the Queen wore it as a brooch or a circlet, before it became part of the Queen's crown, it had adorned the navel of Rani Jindan. By writing this as a fictional character's memoir, George MacDonald Fraser gets to present the historical facts in a manner that suits him best - with a dash of humour.

[Rex Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

9th book in the series, but 4th in chronology. This takes place right after Flashman's Lady where our titular hero is rescued from the mad queen of Madagascar. On the steamer home Flashman is grabbed up the military and dumped in the middle of a potential turmoil in the corrupt court of Lahore, where he must fill the role of the diplomat and prevent an all out rebellion against the British Empire, or what he suppose to help it happen?

As usual the tale of the most successful coward in military history is filled with historical characters and superb details from the 19th century. This is historical fiction done right. It is hysterical, fast paced, with brilliant action scenes. For history buffs and non-history buffs alike. Well worth a look.

[Ellen Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cowardly Harry Flashman (the biggest bully from the 1857 novel Tom Brown's School Days) is a delight and disaster all at once, and George MacDonald Fraser certainly captured the times and places in which Harry lived, loved, fornicated, cowered, and swaggered in turn.

The men in my family are far bigger fans of the Flashman Papers series than I am, but there's no one like Harry to provide the perfect British slang, turn of phrase, or cutting observations on the foibles of the politicians, military commanders, cut-throat "natives," and scheming harem ladies of the 1800s and beyond. As a writer, I doff my hat--make that pith helmet--respectfully to Fraser's immense knowledge and skill.

[Charit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second time with this book, many years apart. Don’t know how much to believe but in his usual style, it is entertaining and bawdy. George Fraser comes across as a racist and imperialist but then you overlook his bent since he seems to dish it equally across the spectrum - British and Indian alike. The saga of the post Ranjit Singh era is quite fascinating. That it went to pot so quickly after he passed away just reinforces what a strong ruler he was for Punjab, with all his eccentricities and excesses included. This book again leaves you with a what-if history had turned a different way feeling.