Dick Francis strana 2 z 19

autor

Narodil sa ako Richard Stanley Francis v mestečku Lawrenny v južnom Walese.

Otec bol džokej a syn pokračoval v jeho šľapajach. Ešte predtým však narukoval k pozemným službám anglického letectva Royal Air Force (1940), čím vstúpil prvý raz do služieb kráľovnej. Neskôr sa stal pilotom. Lietal aj na stíhačkách, ale najviac času strávil v kokpite bombardérov. Počas svojej dvanásťročnej džokejskej kariéry vyhral vyše 350 dostihov a stal sa šampiónom profesionálnych jazdcov. V rokoch 1953 - 1957 jazdil aj pre kráľovnú matku. Práve vtedy sa zranil počas pretekov v liverpoolskom Aintree na favoritovi Devon Lochovi, majetku kráľovnej. Ešte 50 metrov pred cieľom viedol, potom sa koňovi podlomili nohy a dodnes nie je úplne jasné, prečo sa tak stalo. Po nehode vymenil Dick Francis konské sedlo za pero. Svoju prvú knihu, autobiografiu Šport kráľovien, vydal roku 1957, prvý detektívny román o päť rokov neskôr. Odvtedy písal jeden ročne s výnimkou roku 1998, keď vydal zbierku poviedok 13 jazdcov v cieli. Popritom, až do roku 1973, pracoval ako dostihový korešpondent London Sunday Express.
Spisovateľ bol vyše 53 rokov ženatý s Mary Margaret. Zomrela v roku 2000. Rok pred jej smrťou sa na trhu objavil Francisov neautorizovaný životopis, ktorý označil za skutočného autora jeho diel práve manželku. Vtedy akoby rezignoval a až do roku 2006 sa odmlčal. Román Koniec stávok však tieto špekulácie jednoznačne vyvrátil. Dick Francis, pre ktorého bola najobľúbenejšou knihou práve tá, ktorú dopísal, po sebe zanechal dvoch synov Felixa a Merricka, päť vnúčat a jedno pravnúča. Práve synovia mu vo svojom vyhlásení vzdali hold slovami: „Sme zničení zo straty nášho otca. Zároveň nás však teší, že sme synmi takého neobyčajného muža.“ Muža, ktorého za jeho služby celkom oprávnene ocenila kráľovská rodina Radom britského impéria.

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Lacná kniha 10 Lb. Penalty (-50%)


A wanna-be jockey accepts a job in his father's campaign for Parliament--and realizes that politics can be the most perilous horse race of all.
Na sklade 1Ks
3,31 € 6,61€

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Lacná kniha Dead Heat (-50%)


The reputation of Max Moreton, a young wunderkind chef with a restaurant in Newmarket, England, suffers after guests at an affair he caters fall ill with food poisoning. This calamity nearly jeopardizes another job—feeding several dozen attendees at a maj
Na sklade 1Ks
4,14 € 8,27€

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Lacná kniha Forfeit (-50%)


Bert Checkov was a Fleet Street racing correspondent with a talent for tipping non-starters. But the advice he gave to James Tyrone a few minutes before he fell to his death, was of a completely different nature. James investigates, and soon finds his own life, and that of his wife, at risk.
Na sklade 1Ks
4,60 € 9,20€

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Lacná kniha Under Order (-70%)


Beloved series character Sid Halley, a champion jockey, makes a welcome return in the latest fast-paced crime novel from bestseller Francis (Come to Grief). When a crippling injury forces Halley into retirement, he begins a second career as a PI. Thanks t
Na sklade 4Ks
2,98 € 9,92€

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Silks


There are few thriller writers who have had such long and distinguished careers as Dick Francis, and his lengthy series of books (with their zesty recreations of the racing world) are among many readers' favourite novels in the genre. Recently, ill-health seemed to threaten the author's reliable productivity, and the death of his wife (who had long been a behind-the-scenes collaborator on his books) made it appear that the golden days of the Dick Francis racing thriller were firmly in the past. However, here is Silks, the result of a collaboration between Dick Francis and his son Felix -- and it will be a welcome arrival for the legions of Francis admirers. Julian Trent is found guilty of a violent unprovoked attack on an innocent family and a charge of attempted murder. He is accused by the judge of showing no remorse for his actions, but receives a remarkably light sentence. Surprisingly, this news is not welcome to his defence barrister, Geoffrey Mason, who was secretly hoping for a more severe judgement against his client, whom he does not like. Mason is a part-time jockey (this is a novel with Dick Francis's name on the jacket, after all), and when Mason dons his racing silks and travels to Sandown to follow his real passion -- riding a thoroughbred in a heated steeplechase -- he finds that he cannot leave the violence that is often the bread and butter of his profession behind him A fellow rider is savagely killed by a pitchfork driven through the chest, and there is a persuasive amount of evidence against champion jockey Steve Mitchell as the killer, but Mason becomes involved -- and finds all the various aspects of his life coalescing in a lethal fashion.
U dodávateľa
11,80 €

Lacná kniha Enquiry (-70%)


No jockey likes being labelled a cheat. Least of all by a Stewards' Enquiry. Kelly Hughes career looks doomed. He knows he's been framed, but finding the reason could prove dangerous. Especially with a killer on his tail...Hughes' own enquiry uncovers dynamite that could blow the racing world to smithereens. Only a few powerful - and violent - men know the sordid secret. And they'll go to extraordinary lengths to keep it that way. Murder is just one option...Highly ingenious" - "Times Literary Supplement". "Another winner" - "Publishers Weekly"."
Na sklade 1Ks
2,43 € 8,10€

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Lacná kniha Blood Sport (-50%)


Gene Hawkins woke on the first day of his holiday with his hand on the Luger under his pillow, and a ringing in his ears. His boss was on the phone, inviting him on a family boat trip up the Thames. Keeble didn't fraternise with his employees unless he wanted something. What he wanted now was for Gene to spend three weeks looking for kidnapped stallions in Kentucky. He wouldn't take no for an answer. But before the afternoon was out Gene's survival skills were called on cloer to home - catapulting him into a maelstrom of blackmail and murder that would turn the blue grass of Kentucky to red...Rivals his excellent Flying Finish" - "Times Literary Supplement". "Thundering skullduggery...impressive turn of speed ...champion form" - "Sunday Telegraph"."
Na sklade 2Ks
4,20 € 8,40€

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Lacná kniha Bonecrack (-50%)


At twenty to midnight Neil Griffon's home is broken into and he is roughly abducted by masked men. He has no idea who they are, or what they want. But when Neil wakes up, hours later, he quickly discovers that unless he cooperates his kidnappers will destroy his father's precious horses, racing stable and ultimately Neil himself. Returned to take charge of the stables, Neil can tell no-one about his ordeal. Vicious threats and horrible violence against his horses become a day-to-day reality and he is forced to comply with his blackmailer's wishes. Trapped in a war of attrition, Neil realises he must find a way to stop these criminals before his nerve gives out. After all, a choice between his integrity and his life is no choice at all...
Na sklade 1Ks
4,05 € 8,10€

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Lacná kniha For Kick (-70%)


Common sense said that the whole idea was crazy...but when offered huge sums of money to move to England and help the Earl of October uncover a suspected racehorse dope scandal, Danny Roke finds the proposal intriguing. Swapping his job as proprietor of an Australian stud farm to work undercover as a stable hand in Yorkshire, Danny soon has his hands full. Whilst the Earl's attractive daughters Patricia and Elinor draw his attention, he finds himself ever more deeply involved with the vicious swindlers he is out to entrap. And if neither the money nor the swindle will keep his mind on the job, maybe the death of the Earl's original investigator, Tommy Stapleton, will...
Na sklade 1Ks
3,09 € 10,31€

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Lacná kniha Under Order (-50%)


Beloved series character Sid Halley, a champion jockey, makes a welcome return in the latest fast-paced crime novel from bestseller Francis (Come to Grief). When a crippling injury forces Halley into retirement, he begins a second career as a PI. Thanks t
Na sklade 1Ks
4,96 € 9,92€

dostupné aj ako:

Lacná kniha Under Order (-90%)


Beloved series character Sid Halley, a champion jockey, makes a welcome return in the latest fast-paced crime novel from bestseller Francis (Come to Grief). When a crippling injury forces Halley into retirement, he begins a second career as a PI. Thanks t
Na sklade 1Ks
0,99 € 9,92€

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Lacná kniha Field of 13 (-50%)


There's a bomb scare at Kingdom Hill racecourse, where failed conman Tricksy Wilcox watches his dreams blown to kingdom come...At Cheltenham's glittering National Hunt Festival, protocol is rocked as a love-struck owner falls madly in love with her jockey ...There is passion - and revenge - at the glorious Kentucky Derby...and then ten other tantalizing stories to hold you enthralled from the starting gates to the finish. Award-winning Master of Crime, Dick Francis tackles a new distance with thirteen nerve-tingling tales of politics, passion, horses and crime - each one of them tied to a milestone event in the international racing calendar. The result is beyond question.
Na sklade 2Ks
4,20 € 8,40€

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Smrt favorita - audiokniha


V prvním detektivním příběhu Dicka Francise z roku 1962 pátrá amatérský jezdec Alan York po vrazích svého blízkého přítele, nejlepšího dostihového jezdce sezony. Policie tragický pád favorita dostihu uzavřela jako nešťastnou náhodu, Alan je však přesvědčen, že to byla vražda, třebaže jemná síť vztahů v prostředí vztahů v prostředí jezdců, trenérů a majitelů dostihových koní pachatele zatím skrývá. Hlavní podezřelou se brzy stává půvabná Kate, nová majitelka koně, kterého Alan jezdí... Interpret: Petr Lněnička Režie: Daniel Tůma
Vypredané
19,20 €

Vyrovnaný účet, 2. vydání


Román klasika thrilleru Dicka Francise, který napsal se svým synem Felixem. Bookmaker Ned Talbot se stará především o to, aby jeho malý podnik obstál před velkými sázkařskými společnostmi. Pak se ale objeví jeho dlouho ztracený otec a krátce poté je před Nedem ubodán k smrti. Ve hře je tajemný kódovací přístroj, který umožňuje na dostizích podvádět. Ned musí zachránit podnik a zjistit, kdo a proč zabil jeho otce.
Vypredané
24,90 €