Dick Francis was a Welsh-born English novelist, short story writer, autobiographer, and biographer. A former steeplechase jockey, Francis is famous for his suspense novels as well as his championship career. His thrillers usually focus on corruption in the world of horse racing and feature a hero struggling through various physical and psychological obstacles to return order to that world. Francis produces one novel per year, most of which are bestsellers. He has a strong popular following and most of his work is critically acclaimed. In 10lb Penalty, the racing blends with politics. The author met John Major at Lords a year ago and the result is a delightful tale with an unusual theme: an upright son discovers his father to be a righteous man and a political success. Francis has only one irredeemably nasty character other than the person with the gun. This is the filthy Usher Rudd, a tireless researcher into sleaze. Ben, an amateur jockey, spends the fortnight before his 18th birthday as a companion to his widower father, who is fighting a marginal by-election. He is warned about the journalist: "Usher Rudd says George Juliard is not only lying about you being his legitimate son but maintains you are his catamite ... He makes up lies. He likes to destroy people. He'll do it for money if he can, but if there's no money in it he'll do it for pleasure." You can listen online to free English audiobook “10 LB. Penalty” by Dick Francis on our website.
