Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser

Flashman is a 1969 novel written by George MacDonald Fraser.  The eponymous antihero of the book, Harry Flashman, is based on a charcter from the novel Tom Brown's Schooldays.  In this book, the first of a series of 13, we are introduced to Flashman who is a complete arsehole. 

He is a coward, a bully, a rapist and a racist.  He does several very unpleasant things during the story.  As he is the first person narrator of the story you are drawn in by him a bit but generally he is a difficult character to like.  The historical detail in the novel is good.  This book is based on historical events during the British occupation of Afghanisthan between 1839-1842 and there are certain resonances with current events.

This book can be enjoyed despite the flaws of Flashman.  I will probably read some of the other books in the series in due course.