WHEN SIR HARRY FLASHMAN, V.C., THE CELEBRATED VICTORIAN SOLDIER, SCOUNDREL, AMORIST AND SELF-CONFESSED POLTROON'S MEMOIRS FIRST CAME TO LIGHT THIRTY YEARS AGO, THE WORLD WAS FINALLY ILLUMINATED ABOUT WHAT BECAME OF THE CELEBRATED COWARDLY BULLY FROM TOM BROWN'S SCHOOLDAYS. NOW, IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER FAMOUS ADVENTURES OF FLASH HARRY CONTAINED IN THE FLASHMAN PAPERS, COME THREE NEW EPISODES IN THE CAREER OF THIS EMINENT IF DISREPUTABLE ADVENTURER. THE TITLE PIECE TOUCHES ON TWO OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR MILITARY ACTIONS OF THE CENTURY AND SEES FLASHMAN PITTED AGAINST ONE OF THE GREATEST VILLAINS OF THE DAY, AND OBSERVING, WITH HIS USUAL JAUNDICED EYE, TWO OF ITS MOST FAMOUS HEROES.