Flashman in the Great Game

by George MacDonald Fraser Book 5 in the The Flashman Papers series.

First published 1975

Amazon

4.4(5,364)

At Balmoral, Lord Palmerston sends Flashman to India to investigate warnings of discontent among East India Company soldiers. Travelling in disguise, he enters Jhansi and the court of Rani Lakshmibai, then moves through a country where rumour, religious grievance and political annexation are turning military tension into revolt.

The rebellion catches Flashman at Meerut and carries him through the violence surrounding Cawnpore, Lucknow and the campaigns of 1857–1858. He repeatedly changes identity and allegiance to stay alive while British reprisals answer massacre with massacre. The novel contrasts the imperial language of duty and civilisation with the fear and racial vengeance experienced on both sides.