Silks - Dick Francis & Felix Francis

...SILKS: ~ ~ Racing Silks and Legal Silks? ~ ~ ~ ~ ==

This novel, the 41st of the "Dick Francis" enterprise, centres round an amateur jockey, Geoffrey Mason (known on the track as 'Perry' because his PAYING job is as a Barrister) who rides his own horse, court cases permitting, in steeplechase races reserved for amateur riders. This is his TRUE passion, having been introduced to racing by his Uncle Bill when he was twelve. ...
...of things. ln ''' SILKS ''' the love interest is a Veterinary Surgeon, and the protagonists all have at least a tenuous connection with either the legal profession or horses.

At some point in the narrative, there is ALWAYS intimidation or attempt to pervert justice; true to form, THIS hero sustains violence and injury on a page by page basis ~ which only serves to make him more determined to get to the bottom of the case and find ... more

A melodic tune broke into my concentration. I pulled my Pumpkin coloured RAZR out of its case and answered the phone by flicking it open.

"Hello?" . . . . . . . .

"Is that Mrs James? This is Tettenhall Library. The Dick Francis book you reserved is ready for collection." . . . . . . . .

"Is Wednesday okay?" . . . . . . . . .

"Certainly; you can only borrow it for a fortnight, though, as it is still on the reserve list, you know!"

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~ ~ ~ ~ SILKS: ~ ~ Racing Silks and Legal Silks? ~ ~ ~ ~

This novel, the 41st of the "Dick Francis" enterprise, centres round an amateur jockey, Geoffrey Mason (known on the track as 'Perry' because his PAYING job is as a Barrister) who rides his own horse, court cases permitting, in steeplechase races reserved for amateur riders. This is his TRUE passion, having been introduced to racing by his Uncle Bill when he was twelve. The book covers nearly a year and a half of his life; at 35, he is nearing the end of his useful racing career (5'10½" and 11½ stone) but still winning races; as a successful junior barrister, he is also getting nearer to promotion ~ earning the coveted silk of QC, a Queen's Counsel . . . in both cases there would be hurdles to get over first!

The Book is split into four sections, named after legal procedures:

• PROLOGUE ~ March 2008
• PART I ~ Murder, Arrest and Remand ~ November 2008 (Chapters 1 - 6)
• PART II ~ Disclosure ~ March 2009 (Chapters 7 - 9)
• PART III~ Trial and Punishment ~ May 2009 (Chapters 10 - 21)

As is usual with a Francis Novel, the action switches between the 'Racing World' and the normal world of the central figure; in this instance, the courtroom and chambers of Geoffrey's day job interchange with the occasional amateur race at the course, and investigations in the natural order of things. ln SILKS the love interest is a Veterinary Surgeon, and the protagonists all have at least a tenuous connection with either the legal profession or horses. At some point in the narrative, there is ALWAYS intimidation or attempt to pervert justice; true to form, THIS hero sustains violence and injury on a page by page basis ~ which only serves to make him more determined to get to the bottom of the case and find the solution . . . loyalty and courage are the hallmarks of a Francis book . . . endurance and doing the right thing (eventually, when the right thing becomes clear).

AUTHENTICITY

The research is meticulous. Where once Sir Richard's wife Mary would learn to fly (for Flying Finish and Rat Race ) learning to paint ( In The Frame ), and take up photography ( Reflex ) to ensure authenticity, Felix has taken over the creative mantle, going where his 88 year old father cannot. A triple bypass and having a foot amputated do rather clip one's wings somewhat . . . But, of course, his parents had already utilised his experiences both as a Physics teacher and a marksman, in Twice Shy & Shattered among other books. Felix was the younger of the two Francis sons. He has been managing his father's affairs since 1991, and, in an interview in 2007 (published on the penguin.com website), Felix remembers his childhood in the Francis household.

From the 2007 Interview

"The production of a Dick Francis novel has always been a mixture of inspiration, perspiration and teamwork. The first one was published when I was nine, and I grew up in a house where breakfast talk would be about the damage a bullet might do to a man's guts rather than the more mundane topics of everyday life. My parents did the books together with daily discussions, planning and debate . . . .

" [after my mother's death] I convinced my father that I could take over the role once filled by my mother, and the family firm was suddenly back in business."

~ ~ ~ ~ My Reactions ~ ~ ~ ~

For weeks I'd been waiting for the telephone to ring and tell me I was finally first in the queue to borrow and read SILKS ~ the latest Dick (and Felix*) Francis book to be published. Released first in the USA on 26th August 2008, including an Unabridged Penguin Audio version (read by Martin Jarvis), and in the UK in September 2008, in Hardback, I had seen it on the "Autumn List" and had put my name down to borrow one of the Wolverhampton Library copies when available. My turn had finally come!

* [I was slightly amused that the publishers had so associated the name of 'the family firm' (as Felix calls it) of 'Dick Francis' (Richard Francis with wife Mary and Felix himself), with the senior member that they now feel impelled to add Felix as a co-author; although, as Richard has always been publically honoured/acknowledged as that author, I expect they might be planning ahead for a day when Felix might himself replace his dad. Of course, part of the reason was Mary's wish to remain out of the limelight, despite having been the 'ghost-writer' who had assisted in his autobiography The Sport of Queens after he left racing in 1957]

My first introduction to a "Dick Francis" novel was the BBC Radio 4 adaptation and serialisation of RISK as the book of the week ~ [probably in 1980, as the first book I bought was Reflex published later that year] ~ I couldn't afford to buy the hardback most years, but that didn't stop me from standing in WH Smith reading whole chapters of the latest Francis to hit the shelves as soon as it was published, being careful not to damage the binding. I sought out old editions of his previous titles in paperback from charity shops and second-hand bookstores; on the shelves at the Public Library, and read Readers Digest Condensed versions. I just couldn't get enough of them. . . .

One of my favourites was number 23 Proof (1984) in which Tony Beech, a wine merchant, is still grieving the loss of his wife ~ who had died of an aneurism while expecting their first child . . . . I was slightly disappointed that in this story Geoffrey Mason's wife Angela had died in a similar fashion seven years before the story begins, although, really, it is incidental to the story, and it is reputed to be "the most common cause of sudden death during pregnancy." (Chapter 2, Silks)

Apart from this, I found this book as enthralling as the best of the franchise. Felix Francis is a worthy successor to his mother, and I will eagerly await the next volume due for publication 2009.

Available at various booksellers both off and online including discounted versions.

My Own copy is a Book Club Associates Edition (CN 158256) with 368 pp and off-white pages; published 2008 by arrangement with Michael Joseph, an imprint of Penguin Books (in UK). It is an easy size to hold, being not too heavy, and has clear enough print to read easily. I have quite a few in this format, so it will look well on my shelf.

~ ~ ~ ~ Recommended ~ ~ ~ ~

thanks for reading!

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© 2008 . . . . . . ♥ jes ♥
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