George McDonald Fraser wrote the funniest historical fiction series ever. The adventures of the arch-cad Harry Flashman, a 19th century British military officer, were so realistic that they were often taken as such by the unwitting, and so accurate as to the actual historical events that the character enjoyed, as to be continually read by those traveling to this day to the places described in the books for local historical reference.
When asked what fictional hero he would be if he could choose, John Cleese said "Flashman".
The endorsement that put me on to them was from the late great Christopher Hitchens (be at rest Hitch, we miss you so). There are no greater arbiters of my tastes than these two geniuses, I needed not be told again by a third party before I devoured them.
I challenge anyone to read the Flashman series and not be educated, entertained, scandalized and somehow conflicted over the both the glory of, & the evils of, the incredible British Empire.
sg
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