Scientific Romance in Britain, 1890-1950 (review)
cis. The problem here is not so much that Dick Francis is unworthy of serious consideration as that conventional literary criticism, especially Barnes's kind of simplistic analysis of theme, character and style, is unlikely to reveal the secret of the powerful appeal he makes to millions of readers. As a literary artist Francis is no more than competent. To appreciate his achievement, we must take him on his own terms as a popular artist. This Barnes is singularly unwilling to do. Thus, he leaves untouched what for me are the central questions about Dick Francis, such as the ideological significance of the relationship that exists in his novels between English society at large, about which Francis is quietly scathing, and the subculture of horse racing with its ideal values of heroic individualism, comradely competitiveness, and intimacy with natural things. An understanding of the powerful fantasies embodied in his jockey world might take us some distance along the route to understanding Francis' significance and his popularity.