Discovering Flashman has been my highlight for 2010.

Fraser’s skills as a novelist and historian is such that he created a character who remains ultimately likeable, despite his treatment of women. There have been many such men in life – why not in art?

This is Classic Flashman. ( )

Flashman is the ultimate cad, the school bully from Tom Brown's Schooldays, but somehow he is also a likeable character. He is a coward who manages to cover himself with glory - after running away from danger he is usually the last man standing with no witnesses to contradict his own carefully calculated modest and humble version of events.

This is a collection of two books, Flashman and Royal Flash. The first details his expulsion from Rugby School and his subsequent active service in Afghanistan. The second deals with his role in European affairs. Both cleverly intermingle fact and fiction, and bring Flashman into contact with real historical figures and events. They also give numerous hints of other adventures, including the American Civil War and the Charge of the Light Brigade. Flashman seems to have spent time in gaols and brothels across the globe during the 19th century.

Flashman's attitude towards women, foreigners, social class and many other issues are certainly not politically correct now, and probably weren't when the books were written in 1969 and '70. But arguably they are representative of the era in which he lived.

Although the Flashman series is pure fictional comedy, it probably does give some genuine insights into life as seen by a 19th century British rake. ( )