Fascinating stuff. I’m wondering, though, about the place of the one genre writer above all who’s indelibly associated with racing—former Champion Jockey, and so on—Dick Francis.
How totally brilliant of you to remind me of Molly Keane! She is on my bookshelf and I haven't read her for a hundred years. (Since the days just after university, at least.) I'm going to go back and remind myself why I loved her so. Thank you!
Thanks for so many recommendations for future reading! It’s reassuring that there are people who enjoy the flat races only - my only knowledge of racing is being taken to Market Rasen as a child which had jumps (and I presume still does). Inevitably this didn’t always end well when horses were injured.
A tip of the hat is also due to PG Woodhouse. His “Purity of the Turf”, of course, and many other references. “If you could call the thing a horse. If it hadn't shown a flash of speed in the straight, it would have got mixed up with the next race.”
Another great post - thank you Laura! I'm another who hasn't read any Molly Keane since just after university, when I simply laughed out loud at 'Good behaviour'. I had forgotten the racing references, so thanks for that. I must dig out my copy and re-read it.
Actually I enjoy a Dick Francis from time to time - he does write about both flat racing and steeplechasing. His prose is totally undemanding but very easy going; he has clear villains and his hero is always a goodie (if sometimes flawed). Every few years I get a yearning to read a block of his titles over a few days and I have just finished four this week! Rumour has it that his wife helped him with the actual writing and now of course his son has taken over and the thrillers continue.
Thanks Sue! The rumour about Dick Francis’s wife is indeed true… I met him once, he was absolutely charming, and I always felt a bit guilty that I couldn’t get into the books… perhaps I need to take a run at them as it were. Your recommendation is noted. As for Good Behaviour, WHAT a novel!!!! One of the best of the past 50 yrs I’d say.
Just so great. Loved the “Man alive!” moment—Agatha’s flair in two words. Am listening to some short stories by Agatha at the minute in the Bodies from the Libraries series, so good. I always love your pieces.
Great post. I'm not particularly a horse person (though my sister, a veterinarian, is a riding instructor and both my nieces participate casually in riding competitions, so I've seen how people can be gripped by that fever), but I do like horse racing scenes in novels qua gambling scenes. I was actually thinking recently that there's not nearly enough gambling in literary novels any more. What happened to all the roulette??? Who would call a novel "the red and the black" today?
Oh I love that…. Yes, what a title. And yes to more gambling in novels!!! Although I can imagine that a sensitivity reader would want it removed because of gambling addiction etc (which certainly exists, but how can one possibly account for every possible trigger… it’s the road to literary perdition).
Running like Never say Die... Thank you for sharing this, another perceptive and incisive look, an xray one might say, of that most intriguing of themes: class and other timeless issues in British society.
Thank you Maria. Racing is/ was so much a part of British society - as you say. With our old friend class symbolized by the different racecourse enclosures!
Fascinating stuff. I’m wondering, though, about the place of the one genre writer above all who’s indelibly associated with racing—former Champion Jockey, and so on—Dick Francis.
Yes indeed… I’ve never really got into his books, but he certainly deserves a very honourable mention.
Yes. I think I would see him as a solid craftsman rather than an artist, but there’s a place for both.
Absolutely. And he commands huge admiration.
How totally brilliant of you to remind me of Molly Keane! She is on my bookshelf and I haven't read her for a hundred years. (Since the days just after university, at least.) I'm going to go back and remind myself why I loved her so. Thank you!
So glad Tania - I think she is astonishing…
(Hope you enjoyed the ref to the immortal Nijinsky!!!!)
I totally did!
Thanks for so many recommendations for future reading! It’s reassuring that there are people who enjoy the flat races only - my only knowledge of racing is being taken to Market Rasen as a child which had jumps (and I presume still does). Inevitably this didn’t always end well when horses were injured.
A tip of the hat is also due to PG Woodhouse. His “Purity of the Turf”, of course, and many other references. “If you could call the thing a horse. If it hadn't shown a flash of speed in the straight, it would have got mixed up with the next race.”
Elizabeth Taylor is one of my favourite novelists, but I hadn't quite registered the horse racing references!
She is one of the absolute best isn't she -
I loved this! 'Run like Never Say Die'....
Thank you June - my heart leapt when I read that ref in the great Eliz Taylor….
Another great post - thank you Laura! I'm another who hasn't read any Molly Keane since just after university, when I simply laughed out loud at 'Good behaviour'. I had forgotten the racing references, so thanks for that. I must dig out my copy and re-read it.
Actually I enjoy a Dick Francis from time to time - he does write about both flat racing and steeplechasing. His prose is totally undemanding but very easy going; he has clear villains and his hero is always a goodie (if sometimes flawed). Every few years I get a yearning to read a block of his titles over a few days and I have just finished four this week! Rumour has it that his wife helped him with the actual writing and now of course his son has taken over and the thrillers continue.
Thanks Sue! The rumour about Dick Francis’s wife is indeed true… I met him once, he was absolutely charming, and I always felt a bit guilty that I couldn’t get into the books… perhaps I need to take a run at them as it were. Your recommendation is noted. As for Good Behaviour, WHAT a novel!!!! One of the best of the past 50 yrs I’d say.
Just so great. Loved the “Man alive!” moment—Agatha’s flair in two words. Am listening to some short stories by Agatha at the minute in the Bodies from the Libraries series, so good. I always love your pieces.
To have to write a letter to one's literary agent to place a bet on an upcoming horse race is honestly one of my life goals!
And I've never seen that first Elizabeth Taylor cover before and I am in love!
Agatha’s requests to her agent were wonderfully grand, good for her…
Great post. I'm not particularly a horse person (though my sister, a veterinarian, is a riding instructor and both my nieces participate casually in riding competitions, so I've seen how people can be gripped by that fever), but I do like horse racing scenes in novels qua gambling scenes. I was actually thinking recently that there's not nearly enough gambling in literary novels any more. What happened to all the roulette??? Who would call a novel "the red and the black" today?
Oh I love that…. Yes, what a title. And yes to more gambling in novels!!! Although I can imagine that a sensitivity reader would want it removed because of gambling addiction etc (which certainly exists, but how can one possibly account for every possible trigger… it’s the road to literary perdition).
Running like Never say Die... Thank you for sharing this, another perceptive and incisive look, an xray one might say, of that most intriguing of themes: class and other timeless issues in British society.
Thank you Maria. Racing is/ was so much a part of British society - as you say. With our old friend class symbolized by the different racecourse enclosures!
Thanks Laura!