Status
Available
Call number
Library's review
England, ca 1996
Benjamin - kaldet Ben - Juliard er amatørjockey og kun 17 år, da han bliver involveret i faderens valgkamp. George Juliard er en selfmade forretningsmand og ret klog og smart på den gode måde og har besluttet at gå ind i politik. Ben fylder 18 år den 31 august, hvilket også
Juliard stiller op til et suppleringsvalg i Hoopwestern, men målet er at blive premierminister. Ben starter ud som ung og naiv, men bliver hurtigt gjort bekendt med grundreglerne for politik, da faderen bliver udsat for et skudattentat. Hans kampagnebil bliver saboteret og nogen forsøger at brænde dem inde, men bortset fra det, så vinder de valget, delvist fordi Ben faktisk med ærlighed og humor får overbevist nogle nøglepersoner om at det er bedre at bakke den nye kandidat op end at blive ved med at tænke over at den afdøde kandidats kone - Orianda - egentlig var udsat til at afløse ham. Selv Orianda skifter over på Georges side. Efter valget sørger George for at Ben får opfyldt sit højeste ønske og kan fortsætte med at ride væddeløb. I længden giver studierne nu mindre og mindre tid til heste, så da Bens hest en dag brækker benet og må aflives, køber han ikke en ny.
Til gengæld har kombinationen af en universitetseksamen, gode anbefalinger fra hans tidligere arbejdsgivere og hestefolk og hans eget kendskab til hesteverdenen giver ham gode muligheder for en karriere indenfor forsikringsbranchen, hvor et enkelt firma Weatherbys sidder tungt på alt hvad der har med ridesport og heste at gøre. George gifter sig med Polly, som er en af den lokale kampagnestab i Hoopwestern.
Fire år senere er George steget i graderne og klar til at tage over, da premierministeren er blevet metaltræt. En Alderney Wyvern, som også forsøgte at trække i trådene i Hoopwestern, er også i parlamentet og har også her en skjult magt over nogle af de andre parlamentsmedlemmer. Ben er steget i grader i Weatherbys, da en skandalejournalist Usher Rudd beslutter sig for at smudse ham til for at ramme faderen. Usher bruger en hestesportsmand, sir Vivian Durridge, som er blevet ramt af en hjerneblødning og påstår at Ben har taget stoffer. Ben går til modangreb og avisen er nødt til at dementere historien grundigt, da de ikke vil risikere en bagvaskelsessag. Usher Rudd bliver rasende og forsøger at stoppe en avis, der vil bringe historien om ham i stedet for fuphistorien om Ben. Undervejs i raserianfaldet får han røbet at det var Wyvern, der stod bag. Han bliver overmandet og får en tur i arresten for balladen, men ellers sker der ikke noget.
Imens er George med i opløbet som kommende premiereminister og Ben beslutter sig for at lave en rekonstruktion af det fem år gamle attentatforsøg. Det er tæt ved at gå galt, for Wyvern forsøger faktisk en gang mere at få ram på George, men det mislykkes, da Ben tager kuglen for George. Wyvern ryger 10 år i fængsel og George bliver ny premiereminister.
En forsøg på overlagt mord giver 10 år og en hest der er klar favorit får 10 pund ekstra vægt som handicap, og den engelske titel '10-lb Penalty' går på begge dele. Ok spændingsroman, selv om det er lidt trættende med Dick Francis opdeling af verden i sort og hvidt. Det er ret utroværdigt med en politisk snoabe, som er villig til selv at sætte en kugle i en modstander, så det trækker ned.
Benjamin - kaldet Ben - Juliard er amatørjockey og kun 17 år, da han bliver involveret i faderens valgkamp. George Juliard er en selfmade forretningsmand og ret klog og smart på den gode måde og har besluttet at gå ind i politik. Ben fylder 18 år den 31 august, hvilket også
Show More
er min fødselsdag og diverse overvejelser om man med den fødselsdato skal starte et år for tidligt eller et år for sent i skole kan jeg godt genkende.Juliard stiller op til et suppleringsvalg i Hoopwestern, men målet er at blive premierminister. Ben starter ud som ung og naiv, men bliver hurtigt gjort bekendt med grundreglerne for politik, da faderen bliver udsat for et skudattentat. Hans kampagnebil bliver saboteret og nogen forsøger at brænde dem inde, men bortset fra det, så vinder de valget, delvist fordi Ben faktisk med ærlighed og humor får overbevist nogle nøglepersoner om at det er bedre at bakke den nye kandidat op end at blive ved med at tænke over at den afdøde kandidats kone - Orianda - egentlig var udsat til at afløse ham. Selv Orianda skifter over på Georges side. Efter valget sørger George for at Ben får opfyldt sit højeste ønske og kan fortsætte med at ride væddeløb. I længden giver studierne nu mindre og mindre tid til heste, så da Bens hest en dag brækker benet og må aflives, køber han ikke en ny.
Til gengæld har kombinationen af en universitetseksamen, gode anbefalinger fra hans tidligere arbejdsgivere og hestefolk og hans eget kendskab til hesteverdenen giver ham gode muligheder for en karriere indenfor forsikringsbranchen, hvor et enkelt firma Weatherbys sidder tungt på alt hvad der har med ridesport og heste at gøre. George gifter sig med Polly, som er en af den lokale kampagnestab i Hoopwestern.
Fire år senere er George steget i graderne og klar til at tage over, da premierministeren er blevet metaltræt. En Alderney Wyvern, som også forsøgte at trække i trådene i Hoopwestern, er også i parlamentet og har også her en skjult magt over nogle af de andre parlamentsmedlemmer. Ben er steget i grader i Weatherbys, da en skandalejournalist Usher Rudd beslutter sig for at smudse ham til for at ramme faderen. Usher bruger en hestesportsmand, sir Vivian Durridge, som er blevet ramt af en hjerneblødning og påstår at Ben har taget stoffer. Ben går til modangreb og avisen er nødt til at dementere historien grundigt, da de ikke vil risikere en bagvaskelsessag. Usher Rudd bliver rasende og forsøger at stoppe en avis, der vil bringe historien om ham i stedet for fuphistorien om Ben. Undervejs i raserianfaldet får han røbet at det var Wyvern, der stod bag. Han bliver overmandet og får en tur i arresten for balladen, men ellers sker der ikke noget.
Imens er George med i opløbet som kommende premiereminister og Ben beslutter sig for at lave en rekonstruktion af det fem år gamle attentatforsøg. Det er tæt ved at gå galt, for Wyvern forsøger faktisk en gang mere at få ram på George, men det mislykkes, da Ben tager kuglen for George. Wyvern ryger 10 år i fængsel og George bliver ny premiereminister.
En forsøg på overlagt mord giver 10 år og en hest der er klar favorit får 10 pund ekstra vægt som handicap, og den engelske titel '10-lb Penalty' går på begge dele. Ok spændingsroman, selv om det er lidt trættende med Dick Francis opdeling af verden i sort og hvidt. Det er ret utroværdigt med en politisk snoabe, som er villig til selv at sætte en kugle i en modstander, så det trækker ned.
Show Less
Genres
Publication
[Kbh.] : Forum, 1999.
Description
A young man in Britain gives up horse racing to help his millionaire father contest a seat in a parliamentary election. A tale of father-son friendship against the background of political skullduggery. By the author of To the Hilt.
User reviews
LibraryThing member tripleblessings
The young Benedict Juliard loses his chance as a steeplechase jockey because of damaging allegations, and goes to work for his father in a political campaign. Threats to his father's life turn Juliard into a bodyguard and private investigator. One of Francis' most likeable heroes, interesting
Show More
background, one of my favourites. Show Less
LibraryThing member smik
Dick Francis' 36th novel combines horse racing with politics.
At eighteen, easy-going young Benedict Juliard has no stronger ambition than to ride as an amateur jockey. His father, George, driven by powerful urges towards a life of public service and politics, asks his only son to enter into a pact
As George makes his ambitious drive towards the Prime Ministership and occupancy of No. 10 Downing Street, Ben is plunged into a frightening morass of lies and treachery.
In practice, a 10-1b penalty is the maximum extra weight a winning thoroughbred is normally set to carry in a horse race.
A 10-1b penalty can be a killer.
At eighteen, easy-going young Benedict Juliard has no stronger ambition than to ride as an amateur jockey. His father, George, driven by powerful urges towards a life of public service and politics, asks his only son to enter into a pact
Show More
that neither of them will commit any act that could destroy the father's growing reputation and career. Ben agrees lightheartedly, but ten years later finds himself targeted in a vicious attack mounted by his father's increasingly violent political enemies. Through the son, the father is to be discredited and destroyed exactly as George feared. As George makes his ambitious drive towards the Prime Ministership and occupancy of No. 10 Downing Street, Ben is plunged into a frightening morass of lies and treachery.
In practice, a 10-1b penalty is the maximum extra weight a winning thoroughbred is normally set to carry in a horse race.
A 10-1b penalty can be a killer.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SunnySD
Dick Francis at the top of his game. Stepping out of the racing world and into the thick of political campaigning, Francis pits his teenage hero against a mystery assassin who will stop at nothing to get his candidate elected.
LibraryThing member librisissimo
Substance: A 17-year-old jerked out of his "gap year" to help his widowed father win a parliamentary by-election protects his father from a deranged killer with disappointed political ambitions. No one actually solves the mystery, despite ample clues; the killer is ultimately discovered in action.
Style: This book reads more like something written by a moderately-talented writer asked to produce a post-humous "tribute novel". Readable, carefully plotted, and without the customary sizzle of the author's earlier works.
Show More
The teen is unbelievably compliant and pleasant; although Francis goes to great pains to explain why, I remain unconvinced any male-child who thrives on the adrenaline rush of steeple-chasing could be so blah. The father is too good to be true also (literally), even though most of Francis' protagonists and allies are generally virtuous.Style: This book reads more like something written by a moderately-talented writer asked to produce a post-humous "tribute novel". Readable, carefully plotted, and without the customary sizzle of the author's earlier works.
Show Less
LibraryThing member morryb
I have always enjoyed Dick Francis and continue to enjoy him. 10 LB is more about he developing relationship between father and son htan it is a mystery. There is a mystery in the background, but it is now surprise as to who was involved or why. The upfront story is about a boy who joins his father
Show More
in a political campaign and the ongoing development of the relationship between them. This is not Francis at his beast as far a mysteries go, but it still a worthwhile read. Show Less
LibraryThing member SalemAthenaeum
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.
LibraryThing member mldavis2
This is the first novel by Francis I've read, and it's a good beach book. The writing was good and easy to read, the main character was interesting and the story was clean, flowed logically and had an occasional touch of humor. Like many popular serial authors, Francis has a large and enthusiastic
Show More
following which is evident from his work here. On the other hand, I didn't find anything extraordinary to rave about, just a good book that held the reader's attention. Show Less
LibraryThing member miyurose
Dick Francis mysteries have a quality to them that’s difficult to explain. There’s nothing jarring about them, even when something surprising happens. They’re generally all business, with no pesky romantic subplots to detract from what’s going on. And they always have something to do with
In this case, the tie to horse racing is Ben, who would like nothing more than to be a professional jockey. Unfortunately, he’s just a little too large for the professional world, and lacks the support to truly thrive in the amateur one. Instead, he is “convinced” to go to work for his father, a man he’s never really connected with in his childhood.
When I picked up this book, I expected the campaign to span the length of it. But the election happens about halfway through, and then we sort of meander through the next few years of Ben’s life. At that point, the story felt a bit aimless to me. We do get a resolution at the end that ties everything back in, but the urgency was gone. Thankfully, Francis gives us characters that we like to read about, so I didn’t mind the meandering so much.
This probably isn’t the strongest Dick Francis novel, but it was entertaining nonetheless.
Show More
horse racing, even tangentially.In this case, the tie to horse racing is Ben, who would like nothing more than to be a professional jockey. Unfortunately, he’s just a little too large for the professional world, and lacks the support to truly thrive in the amateur one. Instead, he is “convinced” to go to work for his father, a man he’s never really connected with in his childhood.
When I picked up this book, I expected the campaign to span the length of it. But the election happens about halfway through, and then we sort of meander through the next few years of Ben’s life. At that point, the story felt a bit aimless to me. We do get a resolution at the end that ties everything back in, but the urgency was gone. Thankfully, Francis gives us characters that we like to read about, so I didn’t mind the meandering so much.
This probably isn’t the strongest Dick Francis novel, but it was entertaining nonetheless.
Show Less
LibraryThing member themulhern
We meet the book's protagonist as a young man in his late teens. This character is in some ways fairly believable. He has had a rather enviable life due to his father's affluence and general good luck. His father, with absolute confidence, decides to alter the course of his life, and eventually it
Show More
all works out pretty well. Politicking plays an important role in the book, but actual issues and positions are carefully avoided, and the protagonist's father's political affiliation is carefully elided. Unfortunately this makes for a fairly fatuous treatment of some of the political maneuvers. Show Less
LibraryThing member keithgordonvernon
A bit taimer than usual, but still fun
LibraryThing member Jean_Sexton
This mystery was a little different from most of the traditional mysteries that Francis writes. We do find out who the "bad guy" is early on, but the resolution takes several years. I liked it because the main character wasn't a brilliant jockey, but loved the sport anyway.
I also liked how the
Fans of Dick Francis will like this book. I'd suggest it also for people who don't mind a meandering mystery.
I also liked how the
Show More
father-son relationship developed. I think I'd classify this more as fiction with a mystery element and incidental ties to racing. It isn't what I would suggest as a "classic" Dick Francis mystery, but ultimately it was satisfying. I did find one passage I really liked. "Never, ever make a joke to the police, they have no sense of humor. Never make a political joke, it will always be considered an insult. Always remember that umbrage can be taken at the lift of an eyebrow. Remember that if offense can possibly be given, it will be."Fans of Dick Francis will like this book. I'd suggest it also for people who don't mind a meandering mystery.
Show Less
LibraryThing member morrisonhimself
Though the version pictured here is not the one I read, I'm guessing the contents are the same.
Dick Francis has entered a different world in this excellent novel: Politics!
Though I have been involved, mostly on the fringes, in U.S. politics for most of my life, off and on, this inside look at
It seems, to this outsider, to be just as ridiculous and corrupt as ours, though, in this book, not as hate-filled and vicious as ours.
Still, a rational look at what government is and what it ought to be is just as absent as here.
This is, as we expect from Dick Francis, a darn good book, but of course it is not a political philosophy textbook -- nor really, for that matter, a how-to book of campaigning.
It is, though, a thoroughly entertaining story, with action and interesting characters, and I strongly recommend it.
Dick Francis has entered a different world in this excellent novel: Politics!
Though I have been involved, mostly on the fringes, in U.S. politics for most of my life, off and on, this inside look at
Show More
British politics was eye-opening.It seems, to this outsider, to be just as ridiculous and corrupt as ours, though, in this book, not as hate-filled and vicious as ours.
Still, a rational look at what government is and what it ought to be is just as absent as here.
This is, as we expect from Dick Francis, a darn good book, but of course it is not a political philosophy textbook -- nor really, for that matter, a how-to book of campaigning.
It is, though, a thoroughly entertaining story, with action and interesting characters, and I strongly recommend it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member reader1009
standalone suspense novel with horseracing interest set in UK (1997)
I've not read Dick Francis before but often see library patrons requesting and reading these so when I found this paperback in the neighborhood little free library I thought I'd give it a try..
Rather than writing a series, each
The writing is enjoyable, most fast-paced, though the pace dragged in a couple of places heavy with politicking (not necessarily a bad topic but I've read much more interesting political fiction). There is a little amateur sleuthing but also a lot of knowledgeable experts that are conveniently on hand to shed light on various clues--so you feel like you are learning a little while being entertained. I can see why these books have done so well.
I've not read Dick Francis before but often see library patrons requesting and reading these so when I found this paperback in the neighborhood little free library I thought I'd give it a try..
Rather than writing a series, each
Show More
book appears to be a standalone novel, tying into the author's horseracing knowledge (as a former steeplechase jocket in the UK). Each book follows a completely new character -- this one centers on a 17/18 y.o. would-be-jockey-turned-politician's-son/bodyguard; apparently his father's campaign for a seat in Parliament lands him in the crosshairs of multiple enemies.The writing is enjoyable, most fast-paced, though the pace dragged in a couple of places heavy with politicking (not necessarily a bad topic but I've read much more interesting political fiction). There is a little amateur sleuthing but also a lot of knowledgeable experts that are conveniently on hand to shed light on various clues--so you feel like you are learning a little while being entertained. I can see why these books have done so well.
Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1997
Physical description
221 p.; 22.2 cm
ISBN
8755326900 / 9788755326903
Local notes
Omslag: Carl Vang Petersen
Omslagsillustration: PhotoDisc, Inc.
Omslaget viser en urskive
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "10-lb Penalty" af Hanne Tang
I skudlinien / I skudlinjen
Side 19: Husk på at dette valg er en kamp. Jeg har politiske fjender, og ikke alle smilende ansigter er venner.
Side 19: Folk dræber altid Cæsar. Du skal ikke stole på nogen.
Side 19: Det er selvopholdelsesdriftens regel nummer et.
Side 19: Jeg tror desværre, du vil opdage, at der er skurke og snydepelse i alle miljøer, også blandt jockeyer.
Omslagsillustration: PhotoDisc, Inc.
Omslaget viser en urskive
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "10-lb Penalty" af Hanne Tang
I skudlinien / I skudlinjen
Side 19: Husk på at dette valg er en kamp. Jeg har politiske fjender, og ikke alle smilende ansigter er venner.
Side 19: Folk dræber altid Cæsar. Du skal ikke stole på nogen.
Side 19: Det er selvopholdelsesdriftens regel nummer et.
Side 19: Jeg tror desværre, du vil opdage, at der er skurke og snydepelse i alle miljøer, også blandt jockeyer.
Similar in this library
Pages
221
DDC/MDS
| 823.914 |