Dick Francis

[KEV67]

I read one of his books this year, Proof. It was the first of his books I read and I was quite impressed. It was only tangentially connected to the horse racing world. The protagonist was a wine merchant, still mourning the death of his wife. The plot seemed plausible. A lot of crime fiction is very implausible. I gather Dick Francis had different protagonists in his books, which is unusual in crime fiction I think. Dick Francis was big several decades ago, when I was young. Proof seems to be set on the outskirts or close to Reading, where I live now. It had a very 80s, i.e. pre-internet, pre-mobile phone, vibe. Lastly, I think it is surmised that his wife had a big hand in writing the books. She was the one with the literary education.

 

Edit: sorry about the triple post. Trying to post from the pub, with an internet connection like wet string.

Edited December 18, 2021 by KEV67

[KEV67]

I have almost finished another Dick Francis book called Trial Run. It is set just before the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980. It has a horsey connection. An aristocrat is set to take part in the 3 day eventing. Previously a German 3 day eventer died of a heart attack. A retired steeplechase jockey is leaned on to find out more and flies out to Moscow. Needless to say it wasn't a heart attack. I am really quite impressed by the plotting. I am quite interested in the style too. In the penultimate chapter the steeplechaser reflects on the nature of revolutionary fanatics. It reminded me of those British Jihadi fanatics who went to Syria to fight for Daesh. For me it is slightly odd, because I remember the late 70s and 80s, but much has changed. No Internet and no mobile phones is an obvious difference, but the steeplechaser had to retire because he has severe astigmatisms in both eyes and could not see without glasses, which the racing authorities banned as a safety measure. These days he would have laser surgery. 

Edited May 1 by KEV67