R.I.P. Dick Francis

J C

16 years ago

He will be missed. I enjoyed his work greatly. He did have quite a good run, didn't he?

I'm so sorry to hear this. I have read all his mysteries and admired his nice-guy male characters while wondering that they seldom had close family members. The very last one of the three written with his son was my least favorite; most favorites were the Sid Halley ones.

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Hi folks Glad you find this list useful! I realize it's a bit of overkill of information when you might only be looking for suggestions for a few roses, but like Seil I enjoy comparing notes with others to see what survives (and decide if it's worth trying a rose that died one more time). And Jacqueline, the point for me in a list like this is to see what to grow to be as lazy as possible, since anything in my yard has to be hardy enough to thrive without spray or fussing. Enjoy the first rose season, Nummykitchen, and don't blame yourself if roses do die - I fear the HTs that have died in my yard may be as long as the ones that survived, but you never know till you try. Ispahan, glad to help and I hope this isn't too much info to process for what you'd asked about. Like you I spend a lot of time double checking information on HMF, but it's always nice to hear from someone in a similar zone with their experiences too. As for Black Lady, I dearly love that rose and it's tough as nails. It truly is that elusive burgundy dark red color all the time in my yard - no pinking out like some dark reds - and it's thoroughly hardy and disease free as far as my strains of blackspot go (we don't get mildew much here). It's one of only a handful of roses I have multiple plants of in different beds and it holds its own on a nicely compact plant of around 3' or less (both sites have some part sun). My only quibble would be the relatively small flowers compared to other HTs - no more than 2" across or less - maybe between an apricot and a plum size on a good day. I can't vouch for the fragrance with my nose, but I certainly don't detect much of a scent. Still, it's a good rebloomer and entirely trouble free from me. Tantau is another breeder I like a lot, though they do stretch into some roses that aren't good for my zone at times. Glad this is helpful and you're welcome to ask for more input on anything else I grow. Cynthia

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vickitg
Original Author

16 years ago

I agree about Sid Halley, but I also liked Kit Fielding. I hadn't really thought about family connection. Hmmm.

dedtired

16 years ago

Oh I had not heard this. yes, I used to read his books all the time. I always enjoyed them.

rosefolly

16 years ago

My husband and I have read every one of his mysteries, and when she was still living, my MIL did as well. I'm sorry we've lost him. He seemed to have lived a good life. Not only was he accomplished in two distinct careers but he was also well liked as a person, if what I have read is to be believed.

We just lost Robert Parker two or three weeks ago. Both authors' novels were automatic purchases in this household.

Rosefolly

veer

16 years ago

There was always a large collection of Dick Francis' books in my parents house and I must have read quite a few of them. Always real page-turners and good, fast moving thrillers. DF himself would have preferred to have been remembered as the jockey who won the Grand National, which he almost did until the Queen Mother's horse collapsed under him just short of the winning post, than a successful writer of all those books.

Kath

16 years ago

I have a nearly complete collection of Francis books. I liked all of them up to Second Wind, which was after his wife Mary died and before he began writing with his son Felix. I thought his final books were much better and more like his early work.
I liked his heroes too, especially Kit and Sid, and the one who made the mechanical toys (I forget his name).
Vee, the pictures of his horse collapsing in the Grand National were astounding.

Bumblebeez SC Zone 7

16 years ago

I have always liked his mysteries a great deal too. I have listened to everything he has on audiobooks. I admit I thought he had already died!

J C

16 years ago

I understand that his books were written in close collaboration with his wife Mary, who died in 2000. So it would be no surprise that the writing changed quite a bit after that. I believe he "retired" for awhile, then started writing with his son. Although it is a mistake to make judgments from reading magazine articles, he seems like a good and decent person. I don't know if he every wrote memoirs, but that would be worth reading - maybe his son will publish something.

rosefolly

16 years ago

He did write a memoir some time ago. It was called The Sport of Queens.

R

martin_z

16 years ago

Yes; at 89 not unexpected, but still a shame. I have a complete set of paperbacks up to when his wife died - I ought to get the rest if only for completeness!

He did seem to be a genuinely nice guy too. His autobiography Sport of Queens is also a good yarn, though as it was actually the first thing he published, it clearly only covers his racing career.

Did he write the books, or did his wife? Well, I suspect it was a joint effort, and his name was on them for marketing purposes. Speaking personally, I don't really care two hoots who actually wrote them - I'm just grateful for many hours of happy reading.

I liked Sid Halley too - perhaps it's a shame he didn't have more repeating characters. But still - he churned out a book a year for a long long time, and gave a lot of people a lot of pleasure. (And made a lot of money...!) So who am I to criticize?

rosefolly

16 years ago

This past Tuesday's Wall Street Journal had a nice article about his life.

Here is a link that might be useful: As Jockey or Author, a Success

R.I.P. Dick Francis

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R.I.P. Dick Francis

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