"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Monday, February 15, 2010
Dick Francis, RIP
Famous author of racetrack mysteries, Dick Francis, has died.
One of my favourite authors, not only for the books, which are excellent in themselves - literate, well crafted mysteries - but also because they spanned the late 50s onwards. Like the works of the late Ed McBain, you can trace tremendous social change during that period. The early books have characters from Southern Rhodesia who address even close friends by surname and title right through to the invention of the computer and the internet. There is an excellent obit by the way at the UK telegraph. As a tribute I will have to re-read him, all 40 or so books.
Mr Francis will be missed. I was attracted to his books because I was a horse mad teenager, who subsequently became a mad horse owner! His earlier books about the crippled jockey, Sid Halley, were also made into a television series. It may be available on DVD. I don't know as I haven't looked for it yet.
Retread, you're right about To The Hilt. Brilliant. My absolute favourite though is, Hot Money. I have reread it many, many times, and I still get a kick out of it. It's a rollicking ride, pardon the pun, with a sad twist to it.
Paco, seeing as how you enjoy British authors, have you ever read anything by Minette Walters?
If you come across any of hers, I highly recommend The Scold's Bridle, and The Dark Room.
Holy crow! I didn't know he was that old, I was carrying a completely different picture in my head. Well, it was accurate 20 years ago!
ReplyDeleteRest In Peace, your work here is done.
One of my favourite authors, not only for the books, which are excellent in themselves - literate, well crafted mysteries - but also because they spanned the late 50s onwards. Like the works of the late Ed McBain, you can trace tremendous social change during that period. The early books have characters from Southern Rhodesia who address even close friends by surname and title right through to the invention of the computer and the internet. There is an excellent obit by the way at the UK telegraph. As a tribute I will have to re-read him, all 40 or so books.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed his mysteries, and will miss him tremendously.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't read it yet, try To The Hilt, one of his best IMO.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the UK Telegraph tip, cac. They have some video of the Devon Loch collapse, something I hadn't seen until today.
FWIW, there will be one more book with Felix, to be released in August.
Retread
Mr Francis will be missed.
ReplyDeleteI was attracted to his books because I was a horse mad teenager, who subsequently became a mad horse owner!
His earlier books about the crippled jockey, Sid Halley, were also made into a television series. It may be available on DVD. I don't know as I haven't looked for it yet.
Retread, you're right about To The Hilt. Brilliant. My absolute favourite though is, Hot Money. I have reread it many, many times, and I still get a kick out of it. It's a rollicking ride, pardon the pun, with a sad twist to it.
Paco, seeing as how you enjoy British authors, have you ever read anything by Minette Walters?
If you come across any of hers, I highly recommend The Scold's Bridle, and The Dark Room.
Rip Dick. You will be sorely missed.
aw, a pity.
ReplyDeletehis books were always well-crafted and entertaining.