Flashman shows up in the Crimea and takes part in all the action from the Battle of Alma to the Thin Red Line, the charge of the Heavy Brigade and the Charge of the Light Brigade. He is captured by the Russians after the last one, then held captive in Russia at a nobleman's house. We get GMF's point of view of the Russians and Russian serfs. Flashman manages to escape to Central Asia where we're given a history lesson in the brutal conquest of it by the Russians. Very well written and informative. One of the best Flashman books.