[This entry was updated by Gina Macdonald (Loyola University) from her entry in the Concise Dictionary of British Literary Biography, volume 8, pp. 107-127.] Author of thirty-six novels, which have been translated into nearly two dozen languages and have...

Author 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 racing come alive. In fact, Philip Larkin (Times Literary Supplement,...

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 surrounds the event. Ahead by several lengths, the hors...

Leadership: Presidential candidate John McCain says he'll make restoring America's flagging reputation overseas a "top priority" if he wins in 2008. But better to be disliked and right than loved and wrong, we say.McCain's right when he says America's reputation has sagged noticeably in recent...

Brandon Roy had 25 points, nine assists and eight rebounds and the Portland Trail Blazers won their ninth straight game, beating the Toronto Raptors 101-96 on Wednesday night.The Blazers, 11-3 at home and 14-12 overall, have won nine straight games for the first time since...

Samuel Dalembert had 19 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for the Philadelphia 76ers, who pulled away in the fourth quarter for their third straight victory, a 92-80 win over the Sacramento Kings.The 76ers scored seven straight points to built a seven-point lead for Philadelphia...

Brandon Roy scored 22 points despite not playing the second quarter, and the Portland Trail Blazers got their league-leading 12th straight victory Friday night by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-98.The streak matches Portland's best run since winning 12 in a row during the 2001-02 season,...