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Masters of Crime: Lionel Davidson & Dick Francis – essays, interviews, biblio – ed. M Johnson)

£70.00

This is a tribute book to two top crime writers – Lionel Davidson, the only three-time winner of the CWA Gold Dagger and – Dick Francis, best selling suspense-adventure writer. The purpose of this book is to celebrate the writing careers in separate sections of the book: interviews by noted writers, a commentary on each book in the bibliographies, etc Enjoy! Signed by both subject authors.

In Stock: 13 available

This tribute book aimed at collectors and those interested in popular fiction. Both Lionel Davidson and  Dick Francis began highly successful careers as published authors at about the same time, 1960 and 1962 respectively. Davidson was regarded as the “great hope of crime fiction” because of his style, range – they were espionage, adventure, suspense and mysteries; he was also the only three-time winner of the CWA Gold Dagger. Dick Francis was the most prolific writer of best selling suspense-adventure stories during the last fifty years. The purpose of this book is to celebrate the writing careers in separate sections of the book: interviews by noted writers, a commentary on each book in the bibliographies, and an essay placing them in a literary/historical context. Len Deighton provided the foreword. Illustrated and signed by both subject authors.

 The overview essay by Michael Johnson probes the relationship of popular adventure fiction through the cultural shifts in the perception of the hero figure, from the late Victorian period through to the particular contributions of Dick Francis and Lionel Davidson. The once popular adventure tale was in a hiatus until the appearance of these writers in the second half of the 20th Century. According to Michael Johnson, “Davidson’s fans regard him as probably the best adventure thriller writer since the late Victorian period. Although, in truth, Davidson’s talent combines emotional power, great pace and at times a comic absurdity with action, which links him very much to the English comic novel tradition as far back as his beloved Dickens”.

Michael Hartland, former spy writer, reviewer and friend of Mr Davidson undertook the interviews with him at his London home. Dick Francis was to have been interviewed by H R F Keating in Devon but an illness prevented this. Instead he did an imaginary interview based on his knowledge from his personal and professional relationship over the years, and highlights his clever plots and staggering technical expertise. The introductory essay discusses Dick Francis the author of suspense and adventure stories involving high romance and the pastoralism of a bygone idyllic era. The racing and other backgrounds such as aviation appear to have been used to develop a new kind of hero protagonist – flawed but enduring honourable men and women.

Annotated bibliographies of all the books by both authors are provided with print run sizes and points of interest. This includes Davidson’s work as a screenplay writer and children’s author. One of his screenplays was an adaptation of Len Deighton’s The Ipcress File. The book was published with a foreword by Len Deighton in 2006, signed by Davidson and Francis in a numbered edition of 250 copies. A small number of presentation copies were also produced and signed by all seven contributors. A trade paperback edition was also issued. Lionel Davidson passed away in October 2009, aged 87 and Dick Francis in February 2010, aged 89. Both are still read and enjoyed and this book helps us to remember them.

5.00 out of 5

5 reviews for Masters of Crime: Lionel Davidson & Dick Francis – essays, interviews, biblio – ed. M Johnson)

  1. 5 out of 5

    Rating by Ken Bruen on June 28, 2012 :

    It is just wonderful, the illustrated endpapers for the leather bound are amazing and exactly capture the essence of the book. I’m really enjoying it … the book is alive with all sorts of unexpected delights. It is too a masterful scholarly study of not only the writers but the times from which they sprung. Terrific book. Ken Bruen

  2. 5 out of 5

    Rating by Simon Brett on June 28, 2012 :

    It’s a good analysis of the two writers, which sets them in their historical context.
    Simon Brett, President of the Detection Club

  3. 5 out of 5

    Rating by Lionel Davidson on June 28, 2012 :

    I think it comes off very well. Your essays, now seen between covers, give point and depth to the enterprise and read really well. Lionel Davidson

  4. 5 out of 5

    Rating by Len Deighton on June 28, 2012 :

    Michael Johnson is an erudite critic of crime fiction and his enthusiasm and understanding make his observations illuminating and most telling … a superb tribute.
    Len Deighton

  5. 5 out of 5

    Rating by Chas Povey, BC. Canada on June 28, 2012 :

    I received a copy of “Masters in Crime: Davidson and Francis”, Michael Johnson ed., Scorpion Press …. (and) as a small press specializing in limited editions it may go un-noticed. There is a thoughtful essay by Michael Johnson on Dick Francis’s (and Lionel Davidson’s) writing not being confined to the box of ‘crime writers’ but as an important contribution to the evolution of tales of adventure and heroism in English literature. There is also an insightful review of Dick Francis books by the writer/reviewer H R F Keating, written as a ‘quasi-interview’. Finally, for Francis (and Davidson) collectors Michael Johnson has put together a very useful annotated bibliography. I hasten to add I have no interest in Scorpion Press other than the desire to see small independent publishers producing important contributions succeed for bibliophiles everywhere.
    Chas Povey, BC. Canada

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