description Royal Flash Overview
Royal Flash is a 1970 historical picaresque novel by George MacDonald Fraser and the second volume of The Flashman Papers. Its cowardly, self-interested narrator, Harry Flashman, becomes entangled in European political intrigue and is forced to impersonate a German prince because of their close resemblance. The plot satirically reworks the identity-exchange adventure associated with Anthony Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda.
insights Ranking position
Royal Flash ranks #84 of 239 in the Picaresque Novel ranking, behind Hasta no verte Jesús mío, ahead of Marcos de Obregón.
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What is the plot of the novel Royal Flash?
Written by George MacDonald Fraser in 1970, Royal Flash follows the cowardly and self-interested narrator Harry Flashman as he gets entangled in European political intrigue. He is forced to impersonate a German prince to cover up a royal scandal.
Is Royal Flash based on another book?
The novel is a loose, comedic parody of Anthony Hope's famous 1894 adventure novel "The Prisoner of Zenda." Fraser uses the identical plot of a lookalike replacing a royal, but filters it through Flashman's cynical perspective.
Where does Royal Flash fit in the Flashman series?
Royal Flash is the second volume of The Flashman Papers, a historical fiction series. While the first book establishes Harry Flashman's origins, this sequel expands his cowardly, opportunistic exploits across continental Europe.
Who is the main character in Royal Flash?
The protagonist is Harry Flashman, a British Army officer who acts entirely out of self-interest, cowardice, and lechery. Despite his terrible personality, he constantly blunders into situations where he is wrongly hailed as a hero.
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