This "hero" is anything but as he lies, cheats, and turns tail whenever possible to avoid taking any kind of physical risk despite living through some of the worst events of the First Anglo-Afghan war @ 1841-1842.

This is the first book in a series about Sir Harry Paget Flashman. These are autobiographical tales about someone who seemed to live through most of the major military follies from 1841-1894.

Quite a different read from other books about heroes who ride into the fighting while Falshman does everything he can to avoid it but often winds up getting any of the credit due for various military exploits.