In 2002 Dick Francis was given the Gumshoe Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Tribute by Yvette Banek
Sad to say, I spent most of my life oblivious to the work of Dick Francis. Oh, I'd heard his name bandied about over the years, and usually thought, disparagingly, "Horse racing...don't think I'd enjoy reading about that." But in 1996, when I finally succumbed, tempted by the Scottish Highlands setting and the artist protagonist of Francis' 35th(!) suspense novel To The Hilt, I immediately knew I'd struck gold.
I write this as an unabashed fan, having since made up for my late blooming status by reading all 39 works of fiction; most more than once. And as for that horse racing thing, I say this: Dick Francis books are about horse racing the way Hamlet is about Denmark. Think about it.
The son of a jockey, Dick Francis was born in 1920 in Lawrenny, South Wales. He served his country in the Royal Air Force during WWII, and afterwards began a successful career as a jockey, riding in the always dangerous British Steeplechase circuit. Upon retiring in 1957, he wrote his autobiography, The Sport of Queens - he'd ridden for the Queen Mother's stable - and began a second career as racing correspondent for the London Sunday Express. With the publication of his first fiction thriller, Dead Cert in 1962, he launched a third career that would ultimately bring him much deserved, worldwide acclaim.
Obviously, Dick Francis has lived an interesting life and we are fortunate he has chosen to share his observations, his talents, and his experience with us. Yet he never allows his own affection for his chosen sport to overwhelm his characters or the clarity of his storytelling. Having spent many years behind the scenes in an often cutthroat world, his writing is stripped of sugarcoating; his stories all the more imaginative for their grounding in a sometimes unfamiliar reality. As for the horses, most of Dick Francis' books have little to do with horses (except as window dressing) and everything to do with the eternal fight between good and evil.
There are authors who successfully hide behind their work. You rarely get a glimpse of them no matter how many of their books you read. And most would say, this is a good thing. No one wants to feel the hand of a specter lurking in the background, manipulating the characters, ready to step in when things go wrong. But that isn't what I mean. Not all writers wish to expose their true selves, but some just can't seem to help it. They are not mere storytellers. They possess a kind of inner light which illuminates their work.
Dick Francis, by word and deed, reveals himself always as a thoughtful, gentle, intelligent soul with a will of steel and a passion for storytelling. This aura touches almost everything he writes and is what I respond to most in his work. Dick Francis cannot be confused with any other writer. His imprint is unique. His heroes are incapable of being any less than their creator. Though known for their intriguing and often fascinating professions, their unruffled natures, their total self-reliance and often alarming ability to do the right thing, the Dick Francis hero is at heart an ordinary man who is capable, when challenged, of doing extraordinary things. This is the underlying theme of every Francis book.
Whether the tale is about the remarkable and enigmatic jockey Sid Halley (who appears in only three books, unfortunately), or a horse breeder, a pilot, an artist, an architect, a jeweler, a vintner, a writer, a photographer, a journalist, a veterinarian, a glass blower, even a toy maker, Dick Francis always gets it right. Though he can make us smile with wit so dry you don't dare strike a match, he can also break our hearts. He seems to understand the sheer banality of evil more clearly than just about any other writer in the genre. He never heralds, he anticipates. Dick Francis is the master of obfuscation, king of the lethal blow delivered quickly, viciously and without warning. When evil rears its ugly head, its appearance is made all the more dreadful by its ordinariness. This is the genius of Dick Francis.
After writing over 3 dozen bestselling works of fiction, winning three Edgar Awards (Forfeit in 1970, Whip Hand in 1981, and Come to Grief in 1996), and delighting millions of fans, Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Sir Richard Stanley Francis seems finally to have hung up his writing crop. With the death of his adored wife Mary, his spiritual and literary helpmate, he has decided to call it a day. His last published book was 2001's Shattered. When I was a child, I often prayed my favorite writers would live forever. I now realize that they do; in every word they've ever written, in every imagination they've ever touched. Continued good health to you Sir Richard, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for having enriched our lives.
Posted by Yvette Banek in Awards | Permalink
Comments
Dear Ms. Banek,
You summed up his appeal so well. Dick Francis' books are my "comfort food". They always fill me with a sense of well being, no matter what else is going on in my life. They surround me with an honorable, inspiring hero that is so easy to live with and always hard to say goodbye to. For those of us who love horses, they remind us of why we love them so, and why they are so intoxicating.
Thank you for such a wonderful tribute to a great man and writer. I can't imagine a world where there is not a new Dick Francis book to look forward to. But what a ride he has given us!
Sincerely,
Marianne Fox Davies
Posted by: Marianne Fox Davies | Sep 27, 2005 3:29:24 AM
This is a wish come true. I've been reading Dick Francis books since I was in 7th grade. I'm 43 years old now. He got me hooked on what would become a lifelong passion.
I'm still in shock that he will no longer be writing his amazingly accurate portrayals of human conflicts, & the heros that are produced from them. His protaganists are what makes his stories so appealing to me. I too always felt that his heros were a window into who Dick Francis must be. To meet him would be wonderful. He seems to be the kind of man that people would be lucky to count as a friend.
Ms. Banek did indeed accurately sum up Dick Francis & his books, as did Ms. Davies. Thank you for giving me the chance to speak about an author who has touched my life so strongly & positively. Thank you Dick Francis for a lifetime of thrills & joy.
Sincerely,
Nanci Nelson
Posted by: Nanci Nelson | Oct 8, 2005 11:41:42 PM
