Describing character
March 7th 2011 09:04
Dick Francis is best known as a writer of thrillers about jockeys and horses
and racing - and you might expect him not to be much of a stylist. In fact, amongst all the suspense and tension, he can neatly describe character in a few words with the best of them.
Here's one example:
from Flying Finish - chapter 5
Neither had had a scintillating holiday, by the sound of it. I overheard Conker, a much harassed small father of seven large hooligans, complaining as he loaded the cargo that he'd done nothing but cook and wash up while his wife curled up in bed with what was in his opinion, opportunist malingering influenza. Timmie showed his sympathy in his usual way: a hearty gear-changing sniff.
And Anthony Trollope in fine form describing one of his favourite characters, Mrs Proudie:
from Barchester Towers - chapter 33
In truth, Mrs Proudie was all but invincible; had she married Petruchio, it may be doubted whether that arch wife-tamer would have been able to keep her legs out of those garments which are presumed by men to be peculiarly unfitted for feminine use.
Here's one example:
from Flying Finish - chapter 5
Neither had had a scintillating holiday, by the sound of it. I overheard Conker, a much harassed small father of seven large hooligans, complaining as he loaded the cargo that he'd done nothing but cook and wash up while his wife curled up in bed with what was in his opinion, opportunist malingering influenza. Timmie showed his sympathy in his usual way: a hearty gear-changing sniff.
And Anthony Trollope in fine form describing one of his favourite characters, Mrs Proudie:
from Barchester Towers - chapter 33
In truth, Mrs Proudie was all but invincible; had she married Petruchio, it may be doubted whether that arch wife-tamer would have been able to keep her legs out of those garments which are presumed by men to be peculiarly unfitted for feminine use.
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