he ran a great race

Sunday, at his home in the Caribbean, the author Dick Francis died at age 89.

Mr. Francis was one of the first "adult" authors I read - I believe I discovered him when I was ten - and the first author I collected.  I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times, at book-signing events when I was living in Atlanta, and one of my little nerd treasures is a letter I received from him after I sent a fan letter.

I wish I had sent more than one.

Mr. Francis' novels were written in first person, which not every mystery/thriller writer can pull off.  His heroes are ordinary men, for the most part, who find themselves in extraordinary situations that require intelligence, patience, method, and courage to resolve.  While there was always at least a tangential connection to the world of horses, one of the things I found most to admire (and least typical in this genre) was that the principal setting was nearly always unique. 

Out of forty-plus books, Mr. Francis repeated a hero only twice: in the two books "Break In" and "Bolt," and in the three featuring Sid Halley, "Odds Against," "Whip Hand," and "Come to Grief."  With each new hero, he explored a new profession.  His protagonists were sometimes jockeys, but also painters, journalists, pilots, investment bankers, architects, photographers, wine merchants.  I always learned something.

Mr. Francis researched many of his books with his wife.  After she died, he didn't write for a while; I imagine it was difficult to contemplate returning to the task without his constant companion and partner.  I was very happy when his son Felix came on board as a writing partner.  It seems there will be one more new co-authored novel, and then I have to wonder if Felix will pursue the career on his own.

Among the traits I admire about Mr. Francis are his fidelity, his work ethic, his curiosity, his modesty.  His work as a writer reflected, I believe, a great deal of his character; these are not books about which one wonders, how did that guy write this?  

I lose an author from time to time and it is always sad, but Dick Francis was special to me, and I will miss him. 

Comments

[online doctor]

I also love reading different books, we have the same aptitude when it comes to books.