George MacDonald Fraser

George MacDonald Fraser was a highly respected British author, best known for his historical fiction. He was born in England in 1925 to Scottish parents and took great pride in his Scottish heritage. Fraser served in the Burma Campaign during World War II and then with the Gordon Highlanders in the Middle East and North Africa after the war. These experiences greatly influenced his writing, particularly his McAuslan stories.

After his military service, Fraser began working for the Carlisle Journal where he met his wife, Kathleen. In addition to being a successful novelist, Fraser was also a skilled writer of non-fiction and screenplays. He was admired by his peers for his keen eye for accuracy and period detail, as well as his ability to create engaging and insightful stories. His extensive knowledge of the historical settings and events he wrote about added depth and credibility to his work.

Fraser is perhaps best known for his Flashman series of historical novels, which are presented as memoirs written by the fictional character Harry Flashman. The series, which begins with the novel Flashman, is notable for its accurate historical settings and praise from critics. The character of Flashman, a coward and bully, was originally created by Thomas Hughes in Tom Brown's School Days, but Fraser brought him to life in a new and engaging way. The series was widely popular and Flashman became a beloved character, with P.G. Wodehouse himself praising the first book as a "new planet" in the world of literature.