H.E. Bates was first introduced to me as the author of The Darling Buds of May, which I used to love on the TV, but I have never actually read anything by him. Fair Stood the Wind for France (1944) has been on my shelf for almost five years – indeed, I bought it one week after reading Lyn’s review at I Prefer Reading. Indeed, you can see my comment saying that I intended to keep an eye out for it.
It joined those books I took to Edinburgh with me – and, in fact, I think I read all of this one on the train journey. It certainly begins dramatically. John Franklin is forced to crash-land while in a bomber plane over France, along with his fellow pilots. That happens in the first few pages, and was my introduction to the excellence of Bates’ writing:
The ground was too soft and the moon for a few seconds jolted wildly about the sky. The Wellington did a group loop, about three-quarters circle, and Franklin could not hold it. He was aware of being thrown violently forward and of his sickness knotting in his stomach and then rising and bursting and breaking acidly, with the smell of fuel and oil, in his mouth. He was aware of all the sound of the world smashing forward towards him, exploding his brain, and of his arms striking violently upward, free of the controls. For a moment he seemed to black-out entirely and then the moon, hurling towards him, full force smashed itself against his eyes and woke him brutally to a moment of crazy terror. In that moment he put up his hands. He felt his left arm strike something sharp, with sickening force, and then the moon break again in his face with bloody and glassy splinters in a moment beyond which there was no remembering.
Now, I usually prefer the crux of a novel to be about somebody forgetting to return a library book (for instance), but I thought that was really rather good – and the domestic reader is not ostracised at any point by war jargon or jingoism.
For some reason they are very keen to be in Occupied France rather than Unoccupied France. I couldn’t work out why that was (anybody?) – being around Nazis seems like a bad idea to me, but I’m sure there are reasons.
This all sets up the main section of the novel. Franklin is badly injured, but they have no choice but to get away from the wreck of their aircraft. Warily, he approaches a woman at a farmhouse. At the first one, she is terrified but asks him to leave. At the second, the woman is completely calm, and welcomes him and the others in for food and somewhere to rest. She and her family selflessly offer them somewhere to stay for as long as is needed – though it would mean they would certainly all be killed if it were discovered.
‘Calm’ is the word that is used over and over to describe Francoise, and it is very fitting. She is softly-spoken, unflappable, and sensible. Even when she and Franklin travel into the nearest town because his arm badly needs the attention of a doctor, Francoise refuses to panic or even (it seems) worry. She has a wisdom that can only be gained by implacably facing the unfaceable. (And a good line in simple bribery: ‘She smiled. “With a chicken you can do most things,” she said.”With two chickens you can do anything.”‘)
Lyn uses the word ‘understated’ in her review to describe Fair Stood the Wind For France, and it is very apt – and Francoise sets the tone. Her manner seeps into the novel. Terrifying and terrible things are happening, but Bates does not inject the novel with undue drama; instead, we witness these events in a kind of a quiet horror and share the simple humanity of the characters. Because, of course, Francoise and Franklin begin to fall in love. And they do that in a very understated way too. There are no overblown statements, but simply a meeting of minds and a shared understanding.
It’s a lovely novel, which combines the simple and the extraordinary beautifully. Thank you, Lyn, for bringing it to my attention – and this proves that books can wait a while on the shelf before they’re finally enjoyed!
I don’t think I have ever read H E Bates.
Now’s your chance :)
This was one of those books I discovered while reading blogs one December for ‘best reads of the year’. Kimbofo loved it and it sounded right up my street…she was right. Glad you enjoyed it, Simon…the cover on your edition is reminiscent of my H E Bates short story book.
It’s definitely appeared on a few blogs before, I think – it takes a while for them to work the way to the top, it seems! The cover is a TV tie-in, so I might be intrigued to watch that sometime.
I can, unusually, recommend all five Darling Buds books for those who love the TV series, and vice versa. But haven’t read anything else of his – I had Fair Stood on my shelves for ages but (shock) Oxfammed it unread in a house-moved-related purge.
That is unusual! It’s great to hear there’s a series that doesn’t trail off. But what a shame that this ended up leaving the house! On the plus side, you can doubtless find this again if you really want, and Oxfam will have benefited.
LOVE FOR LYDIA by Bates is the best book ever.I have read it 4 times and seen the 1978 tv series twice.
Best book ever! Wow. I think I have this… if not, I do see it in charity shops quite often.
Well it is the only book i have read 4 times–thats my reason for saying that.
Tina
Great review. I have not read Bates. And would like to start with darling Buds of May first. Maybe I will pick this later on
Thanks! And I hope you enjoy Darling Buds – if it’s anything like the TV series (and Anna suggests it is!) then it’ll be great fun.
Lovely review Simon. I keep hearing good things about Bates though I’ve never read him – but I’ll certainly give him a spin if I stumble upon any of his books!
Thanks Karen! I think you’d like him – he certainly writes very well.
I suspect the answer to your question about Occupied vs Unoccupied is that Unoccupied was what is known as Vichy France — they had effectively done a deal with the Nazis in return for some privileges. At least in Occupied France the people themselves were anti-Nazi, whereas after the war some of the Vichy leaders were executed for crimes against humanity. Or I may be wrong.
I’m glad y enjoyed FSTWFF when you got around to it, Simon! I remember it very fondly & I’d like to see the series too. It was released on DVD a few years ago, Imthink. I haven’t read any more Bates but I have the Flying Officer X short stories on my Kindle & Love for Lydia has just been reprinted recently.
I read this one as a teenager – it was one of my mum’s favourites. I still own that copy, and MUST re-read it one day soon (and Love for Lydia)
I’ve not read any Bates either, as far as I know. I didn’t ever fancy the TV series myself, but I’ve heard the books are good. Might suit the gentle reading I seem to need at the moment …
I’ve been reading some of Bates’s stories over the last year or two and I intend to continue doing so. He’s a greatly underrated (or nearly forgotten) writer. I have the Darling Buds of May books to read as well, which is what he’s most famous for these days. I’m glad you liked this one as I also may have been put off a bit with the war theme.