The books

Smokescreen

Harper, 1972

Movie star Edward Lincoln travels to South Africa as a favor to his dying godmother to find out why her horses are running so poorly.

Edward Lincoln

33, actor

Evan Pentelow

director

Film crew:

Conrad

director of photography

Terry

cameraman

Lucky

cameraman

Simon

clapper loader

Jill

girl with key to handcuffs

Movie star Edward Lincoln travels to South Africa as a favor to his dying godmother to find out why her horses are running so poorly. Charlie - Link's wife Peter - Link & Charlie's oldest, 10 years old Chris - Link & Charlie's second son Libby - Link & Charlie's daughter, 5 years old Bill Tracker - steeplechase trainer Nerissa - to Link Portia - Nerissa's sister, left everything to her Danilo Cavesey - Nerissa's nephew and only living relative John Cavesey - Nerissa's husband (passed away over 16 years ago) Greville Arknold - trainer of Nerissa's horses in South Africa Clifford Wenkins - South African Distribution Manager for Worldic Cinemas Roderick Hodge - Features Editor of the Rand Daily Star Katya - reporter for a women's radio program Joe - radio equipment man at the press conference Barty - Arknold's head lad Quentin van Huren - Portia's brother-in-law Vivi - Quentin's wife Jonathan - 20, Van Huren's son Sally - 15, Van Huren's daughter Rojedda Reef - Van Huren's gold mine George - Link's guide on his horse ride Mr. Klugvoigt - Chairman of the Race Club K.L. Fahrden - Arknold's jockey Pieter Losenwoldt - mining engineer at the gold mine Piano Nembezi - checker at the gold mine, saved Link's life Melanie - friend of Katya and Roderick, model Haagner - park ranger at Kruger Park Hawleyliz shares hers: I've never been to Africa so I love the feel for it that you get while reading Smokescreen. My choice for favorite quote

cross between an aunt, a godmother and a guardian

I had read this book about three years ago...it was fun reading it again. I like the Dick Francis characters because they always seem so practical. A typical resonse from one of the characters would be: 'Oh, I'm being threatened...what is the problem and what can I do about it.' Not the normal reaction of the people I know. But, it appeals to me...I like that approach to life. So...the following quote really spoke to me: 'Don't be so bloody scared; it isn't of any practical use.'

We walked across the car park to his car, and I experienced for the first time the extraordinary smell of Africa. A blend of hot sweet odors with a kink of mustiness; a strong disturbing smell which stayed in my nostrils for three or four days, until my scenting nerves got used to it and disregarded it. But my first overriding impression of South Africa was the way it smelled.

Chosen by members of the reading group in the late 1990s. From Smokescreen by Dick Francis.

We discussed Smokescreen on June 30, 1997.

This page was first written for the reading group's original site in the late 1990s and was lost when AOL Hometown closed. It has been recovered from the Internet Archive.

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