THE FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE

Captain Charles Augustus Tollemache of the 18th Light Dragoons does not, unfortunately, have Flashman's lascivious grandeur, so that his adventures during the waning days of Napoleon's career seem merely busy rather than rousing. But busy and ingenious they are. Tollemache ping-pongs back and forth through unlikely services--to the tippling Prince Regent; to his dotty spouse Caroline whom Tollemache escorts to Naples only to let her slip away; and to Napoleon, grumbling on Elba. Next he's off to Waterloo where he helps the incompetent Wellington. Then he goes back to England and the favor of the Prince and his brother Clarence, Duke of York. Throughout, the wily counterspy Mlle. Louise Demont supplies false leads and amorous dalliance. The historical characters (including Lousie) are drawn to plausible scale and the political/military framework is sound, but Tollemache hasn't much style.