I am a big fan of the Flashman but I found this novel, notwithstanding its reputation as being the best in the series, to be not as interesting as others. Perhaps it is just the fact that the historical focus were not of particular interest to me. I find Bismarck and Lola interesting subjects to be sure, but I felt that there really was not much of them in the story. Rather, the story focuses on Flash's attempt to disentagle himself from a fictional conspiracy orchestrated by a fictional Prussian agent. Maybe it's the American in me talking, but I would recommend Flash for Freedom, Flashman and the Redskins or just about any other Flashman books except the "Flashman and the Tiger" over this book.

The second in the Flashman series. Not quite as good as the original but still a worthy read. Fraser's style makes these books very enjoyable.

Harry Flashman has always been a character on the periphery of my awareness. I remember seeing the books around and never picked one up, but now that I have, I'll probably read the rest of them. This book was just a lot of fun. This tale of Flashman forced to impersonate Prince Carl Gustaf of Denmark by Otto Von Bismarck after being tricked into coming to Germany by Lola Montez, is one of those combinations of history and farce that are entertaining when well-done. Fraser moves the story along well, with clearly defined and often hilarious characters and an anti-hero who is truly larger than life. Occasionally the story has a tendency to meander, but Fraser always ends up pulling it together with one more scene of Flashman's accidental heroics, generally brought forth by his incredible cowardice, a fault he is consistently proud of. With all the interesting footnotes and historical figures fitting naturally into Flashman's world, this really hits the mark.

The blurb in the front of George MacDonald Fraser's Royal Flash - the second book in the Flashman Papers - is a New York Times quote that says: "If anyone is looking for a successor to James Bond, Flashy is the one." This is inaccurate; if anything, Harry Flashman is the anti-Bond: cowardly where Bond is courageous, self-serving where Bond is selfless, but human where Bond is superheroic (although the literary Bond is considerably less so than the cinematic one). Flashman, in short, is one of the great cads in fiction, and gleefully unrepentant in his roguishness.

Royal Flash starts where the first volume (Flashman) ended, with the narrator resting on his laurels from his campaigns in Afghanistan. Of course, readers of the first volume are well aware that his heroics are essentially pure fiction, but the British public of 1842 is not onto him. For around 70 pages, Harry is relishing his status while antagonizing various historical figures, most particular, a young Bismarck. This will come back to haunt him years later, when he receives a mysterious summons to come to Germany.

Harry smells a trap, but the scent of money is stronger, so he goes, only to be forced into a scheme of Bismarck's. As it turns out, Flashman is a virtual twin for Prince Carl Gustaf, who is soon to marry a princess that will solidify certain political alliances that Bismarck wants. Unfortunately, Gustaf has taken ill with a sexually transmitted disease and the cure will take too long; the wedding would be threatened and with it, Bismark's plans. Enter Flashman, who will impersonate Gustaf temporarily. Harry suspects there's more to this than what he's been told, but he has little choice to go along with the plot.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, but I like this one even more. The book Flashman is a bit more episodic, while Royal Flash has more of a single plot, allowing a better narrative flow. A wonderful blend of history and satire, Royal Flash will continue to entertain those who found the first book a pleasure.

One bloody narrow escape after another! Flashman, Aubrey/Maturin, Jack Bauer! It must be atavistic, the thrill I feel from them, hormonally encrypted by my neanderthal evolution! Plus Flashman comes with 'entremeses' of lechery between the entrees of fish and foul!

If you are so much as considering RoyaL Flash, you should - you must - have read the first of the series, titled simply Flashman. If you haven't, I'll tell you only that Harry Flashman is the most cynical craven con-man to slither through historical fiction since the picaresque adventures of Lazarillo de Tormes. Wny it's almost plausible that such a scoundrel might have skulked in the crevices of history, playing a necessary but unrecorded role! And you may be sure that nearly all the historical allusions and settings of the Flashman books are quite authentic. In Royal Flash, our anti-hero's opponent is none other than Otto von Bismark; I'm dead certain that anyone who read RF before the age of 25 would never be able to conceptualize Bismark other than as portrayed by George MacDonald Fraser.

This second book of the Flashman Papers takes a good thirty pages to build up speed, but then it's.... one bloody narrow escape after another, as our Harry lucks out against the blondest blue-eyed beasts all Germany can muster, without ever being forced to act courageously.

Read it! You know you can't resist! If you've come this far, you're doomed to read them all.