H. E. Bates (1905–1974)

Fair Stood the Wind For France by H. E. Bates is the story of a young English pilot, John Franklin, who, along with his 4 man crew, are forced to crash land in Occupied France in 1942. Franklin has a bad arm injury but they are taken in at a remote farm. The daughter, Francoise and Franklin have an immediate attraction to one another and rather than give himself up and get treatment, he allows the local doctor to remove his arm. Working with the Underground, papers are obtained for the 4 other Englishmen, but Franklin, due to his injury remains at the farm to heal.

Eventually he is well enough to attempt to escape and Francoise decides to be his guide and, in fact, to accompany him back to England so that they can be married. They manage to work their way into Vichy France and to Marseilles. When they learn that the Allies have landed in Algeria, they realize that the Germans will be taking over Vichy France and they need to get out quickly.

Although there were moments of very high tension, the story actually moved quite slowly with a lot of emphasis on the building relationship between the two young people. I have read H. E. Bates previously but only some of his humorous books like The Darling Buds of May, so I was quite surprised at the serious content and literary technique of the writing. The book was published in 1944 so is quite unusual in that it was unknown as to when or how the war would end. Fair Stood the Wind For France is a simple, poignant story that is delivered in a thoughtful and understated manner.… (more)

Another for me from the wonderful H.E. Bates and Uncle Silas is a great character! He’s the perfect scallywag, full of talk and very little action. He’ll argue a point til the cows come home rather than admit he’s wrong. Likes more than a drink or two - keep ‘em coming is how he likes it. I doubt you could get a better storyteller and - it’s all the honest truth mind! These short stories will make you laugh. Silas is impossible. He’ll drive you nuts but you’ll love him to bits. They don’t make ‘em like Silas anymore. Perfectly illustrated with sketches by Edward Ardizzone. Unfortunately I don't like this cover. I never do when it's a movie tie in.… (more)

A good writer can say so much with few words. This tiny book, only 90 pages long, packs quite a punch and the reason for the title is rather haunting when all is revealed. Fate brings two people together. Alice is a lonely woman, forced through circumstance to live and work alone on her farm, and Barton a homesick soldier. Barton is happier and less stressed spending time with Alice, helping run the farm, than struggling with the rigid relentlessness of army life. His decision to go AWOL, because of a growing affection between them has irreversible consequences. It was made into a film in 1972 staring Glenda Jackson. I haven’t seen it.… (more)