tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post2295984420286564656..comments2024-02-25T19:19:39.854+11:00Comments on I prefer reading: Fair Stood the Wind for France - H E Bateslynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-90419141346965499912014-01-06T16:40:41.734+11:002014-01-06T16:40:41.734+11:00Yes, it's beautifully written. I don't kno...Yes, it's beautifully written. I don't know anything about Bates's life so maybe he did have some inside knowledge of the situation in Europe. A certain amount must have been known before the war ended. I know I'll read it again one day.lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-58607164936625989302014-01-06T05:52:33.868+11:002014-01-06T05:52:33.868+11:00I have read this wonderful book perhaps 5 times si...I have read this wonderful book perhaps 5 times since I first read it as a boy some 55 years ago. I never take it off the shelf without experiencing a frisson of anxiety , because although it is a consummate love story, it is also darkly tragic, and although it is compelling it does not make for comfortable reading. It is one of the most finely crafted works that I can think of , with exemplary characterisation of all those who have a part to play in the rescue of the crew, and it is quite clear to me that, since it was written in 1944 before there was widespread knowledge of the situation in occupied France, the author who was based in England plainly had intimate knowledge about the circumstances of, and work of, the resistance . Disturbing though the book is in many ways, I recommend it without hesitation to all who are interested in novels about human natureChristopher Storeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14387343766866418529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-19977421430399823962013-08-06T15:24:15.064+10:002013-08-06T15:24:15.064+10:00Hi Mara. I read the book a couple of years ago so ...Hi Mara. I read the book a couple of years ago so I'm afraid I can't answer your questions. I assume he wanted to land in occupied France because he hoped to get help from the locals. Vichy was collaborating with Germany so he was probably less likely to get help there. I'm glad you like the book.lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-82296669244476286602013-08-06T11:00:50.265+10:002013-08-06T11:00:50.265+10:00Liz,
I have to questions about this wonderful book...Liz,<br />I have to questions about this wonderful book, one of my all time favorites.<br />First, why did the pilot hope to have landed in occupied France rather than Vichy? He states this wish several times.<br />Second, I don't understand the title. I know it's a quote from the Michael Drayton poem Agincourt, but can't understand the relationship to this novel other than the massive odds for survival that the pilot was facing in France. Isn't Fair Stood the Wind more of a naval description? Why is it suitable for the story? Perhaps the boat at the end? <br />Would love to have information to understand these questions.<br />Thanks.<br />Mara<br /><br />mkstudio1@aol.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125249604844925848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-11559616825571967282013-08-06T05:54:15.715+10:002013-08-06T05:54:15.715+10:00I wonder about the title. I know the poem Agincour...I wonder about the title. I know the poem Agincourt, by Michael Drayton, but don't understand why H.E. Bates chose this quote.<br />I also wonder why the pilot mentions several times that he hopes they have crash landed in Occupied France, not Vichy. Why is this?<br />Would really appreciate getting info.<br />Thanks.<br />mkstudio1@aol.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125249604844925848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-20607505955114163992011-09-17T13:00:42.461+10:002011-09-17T13:00:42.461+10:00Liz, the cats are very well & running the hous...Liz, the cats are very well & running the house as if they had always lived here. We were in the garden this morning when I took a break from the housework & I took some photos. I hope to take more tomorrow when I do some gardening so I'll post the pictures if they're any good.lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-16517273778568761862011-09-16T19:32:35.587+10:002011-09-16T19:32:35.587+10:00I went through a stage where I read a huge number ...I went through a stage where I read a huge number of H E Bates books but I could never get on with the Larkin books and I have to confess that the TV series really wasn't my cup of tea either!<br />I loved Fair Stood the Wind For France, though, partly helped I suspect because my copy belonged to my mum and is in a special wartime edition using a different quality of paper. Very atmospheric!<br /><br />Hope that your cats are doing okay!LizFnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-27238466301798490692011-09-16T11:53:26.715+10:002011-09-16T11:53:26.715+10:00It's a beautiful book, Yvette, I think you'...It's a beautiful book, Yvette, I think you'd enjoy it. Bates is probably best known these days for the Darling Buds of May books about a bucolic but wily English family. They were made into a TV series with David Jason (Inspector Frost), Pam Ferris & a very young Catherine Zeta-Jones. I haven't read the books or seen the series so I don't know how good/accurate they are. I'd like to try the books at least.lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-1204266037866664512011-09-16T06:36:29.604+10:002011-09-16T06:36:29.604+10:00Oh, this sounds so wonderful, Lyn. I don't kno...Oh, this sounds so wonderful, Lyn. I don't know the work of H.E. Bates, in fact I don't know the work of many British writers writing during this period. I've never gotten my hands on the books. That's my excuse.<br /><br />I love that period in history as well.<br /><br />I am going to have to look a bit harder to get my hands on these writers. Simon at STUCK IN A BOOK reads these kinds of books as well but I can never find them at my library.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-74348983087911170262011-09-13T19:44:38.291+10:002011-09-13T19:44:38.291+10:00Dani, you really do need this book, you know. The ...Dani, you really do need this book, you know. The cover is the same on the latest Penguin Modern Classics edition, it just has different typeface for the title. I haven't read any of his other novels but I think I have some of his short stories somewhere. Frances, I hope you get hold of a copy, it was a great read. Simon, yes, I read a rave review on Reading Matters & that made me get the book down. I've only had it sitting there 5 years or so!lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-751377754190442042011-09-13T19:01:10.215+10:002011-09-13T19:01:10.215+10:00Well, this is my favourite period, as you know! I...Well, this is my favourite period, as you know! I seem to remember another blogger reading and really loving this a while ago...? I've not read any H E Bates - in my head he's just associated with the somewhat hokey TV series of Darling Buds, but I'll definitely keep an eye out for this now.StuckInABookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10017836017530130716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-21194854454522292011-09-13T09:33:43.972+10:002011-09-13T09:33:43.972+10:00I've been searching for this book! After read...I've been searching for this book! After reading your review I have got to read it! I've been on a long string of WWII novels and this is one I don't want to miss. ~FrancesGirlsWannaReadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12981627850782598265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-52822242827754346922011-09-13T08:09:59.682+10:002011-09-13T08:09:59.682+10:00I have been SO bad lately buying new books but I t...I have been SO bad lately buying new books but I think I need this one too! I've only read Feast of July, but I also have Love for Lydia as well. He was hugely prolific--thanks for the reminder of his work! Love this cover by the way!Daniellehttp://www.danitorres.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.com