Author of the Flashman historical novels dies

The news media is reporting today the sad news that author George MacDonald Fraser has died aged 82. I have all twelve of his well researched and at times very funny novels about the nineteenth century adventures of his fictional hero/coward Sir Harry Flashman. As I write this the 2 January 2008 report from the BBC of the news of his death is its most frequently emailed article. Other new media to report on his life include the Independent and the Times.

I am also sad because no package of papers on Sir Harry's adventures during the US Civil War or the Franco-Prussian War, alluded to in the novels, has been found.