Dick Francis Summary

Biography EssayAuthor of twenty-nine novels, which have been translated into nearly two dozen languages and which have sold more than twenty million copies, Dick Francis is unequaled at making horse r... Read more

Raised in a family of jockeys, Dick Francis rode professionally for ten years, became Champion Jockey in 1954 and nearly won the Grand National on the Queen Mother's horse, Devon Loch. Mystery still s... Read more

Critical Essay by Anthony Boucher It's a pleasure as rare as it is gratifying to watch an author start out well and then get steadily better with each book. This has been the case with Dick Fr... Read more

Critical Essay by John Leonard Some years ago, reviewing a novel by Robert Coover, Wilfrid Sheed said that "not to read it because you don't like baseball is like not reading Balzac bec... Read more

Critical Essay by Phoebe-lou Adams There seems to be no limit, fortunately, to Mr. Francis' ability to invent skulduggery about steeplechasing. He is the best thriller writer going, with the c... Read more

Critical Essay by Philip Pelham Francis improves with every book as both a writer of brisk, lucid prose and as a concocter of ingenious and intricately worked-out plots. He has acquired something of ... Read more

Critical Essay by Barry Bauska [Just as Dick Francis demonstrates] capabilities both substantial and varied, so too do we find his protagonists—who are in one form or another versions of Franc... Read more

Critical Essay by John Welcome [Because it sticks more to racing than some of his other novels, Dick Francis's Whip Hand] is happily up to standard. The style is confident, the prose direct, t... Read more

In the following review, Pitts criticizes Francis's Bolt for being snobbish and implausible. My favourite jump-jockey is a minute little fellow with a face like a pruned-up parrot and a voic... Read more

In the following review, Westlake discusses Francis's "edge" over other writers of the English detective story, focusing on his novel The Edge. What is it, all at once, with Ca... Read more

In the following review, Grafton praises Francis's The Edge for its authenticity. Now and then, a writer's skill and his subject are so perfectly wed that a whole new category of fict... Read more

In the following review, Waugh lauds Francis's Straight as one of his most enjoyable novels. Dick Francis' annual treat for his admirers is out, and it is a good one. The story races ... Read more

In the following review, Stasio asserts that while Francis's Straight is well-researched, the sections about horse racing are more compelling than the scenes about gemstones. During the year... Read more

In the following review, Stewart praises Francis's impeccable research for Longshot, and comments on how Francis deals with expletives in the novel. There are two kinds of readers: those who... Read more

In the following essay, Killian describes Francis's life and careers as both a steeplechase jockey and a writer. Dick Francis no longer needs to ride a horse. He has just issued Longshot,... Read more

In the following excerpt, Mattos lauds the "pulse-quickening suspense" of Francis's novels and Longshot in particular. In 1962, so the story goes, Dick Francis needed a new car... Read more

In the following review, the critic praises Francis's Driving Force for its believable characters and realistic setting. Archetypal Francis hero Freddie Croft is a 35-year-old former champio... Read more

In the following essay, Dampier and Gleick present an overview of Francis's life and career. Dick Francis begins every new year the same way. Each Jan. 1, he rises early, takes a walk on the... Read more

In the following review. Simpson asserts that "Francis always delivers a story you can bet on" as he does with Driving Force. Like a good race horse that always finishes in the money,... Read more

In the following review, Hillerman asserts that while readers generally do not read Francis's work for his plots, with Bolt "Francis finally uses a plot so flawed that it ruins the book.... Read more

In the following review, Dowell asserts that Francis's Decider "runs smoothly and efficiently to a tidy conclusion." When you pick up Decider, the 34th mystery novel written by... Read more

In the following excerpt, Lehmann-Haupt praises Francis's Decider, asserting that Francis "writes winningly about horses." At the start of Mr. Francis's Decider, Lee Mor... Read more

In the following essay, Schaffer discusses the use of violence and injury in Francis's novels. Dick Francis is no stranger to pain. For over a decade (1946 to 1957), as an amateur and then p... Read more

In the following review, Mortimer praises Francis's storytelling ability in Wild Horses. In many ways the writer is made by the day job. Where would Chekhov and Conan Doyle have been without... Read more

In the following review, Helmick discusses Francis's love of horses and how he uses it in his novels. The Grand National at Aintree is England's greatest steeplechase; in 1956, Britis... Read more

In the following review, the critic discusses the return of the protagonist Sid Halley in Francis's Come to Grief. Big news for Francis fans: He's broken his rule against recycling he... Read more

In the following review, Weeks discusses Francis's Hot Money, focusing on the themes of horses and heroism which are found throughout Francis's work. Dick Francis' mysteries ha... Read more

In the following review, Skow praises Francis's Hot Money for its believable characterizations and whodunit puzzle. Psychology is kept decently out of sight in most of the 25 horsey thriller... Read more

In the following excerpt. DeAndrea praises Francis's Hot Money. Last column, I had a few words to say about one of those writers whose mystery-story career is a cause of anguish, someone who... Read more