Fair Stood the Wind for France
Encyclopedia
Fair Stood the Wind for France is a novel written by English author H. E. Bates
, it was first published in 1944 and was his first financial success. The title comes from the first line of Agincourt, a poem by Michael Drayton
(1563–1631).
controlled Marseilles but Franklin's conditions worsens and he remains at the farm during the hot summer weeks that follow and falls in love with the farmer's daughter Françoise. Eventually they make the hazardous journey together by rowing boat and bicycle...
starring David Beames as Franklin and Cécile Paoli
as Françoise. This production is available on DVD, distributed by Acorn Media UK
. In November 2009, BBC Radio 4
broadcast a two part dramatisation by Maddy Fredericks in the Classic Serial strand.
H. E. Bates
Herbert Ernest Bates, CBE , better known as H. E. Bates, was an English writer and author. His best-known works include Love for Lydia, The Darling Buds of May, and My Uncle Silas.-Early life:...
, it was first published in 1944 and was his first financial success. The title comes from the first line of Agincourt, a poem by Michael Drayton
Michael Drayton
Michael Drayton was an English poet who came to prominence in the Elizabethan era.-Early life:He was born at Hartshill, near Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. Almost nothing is known about his early life, beyond the fact that in 1580 he was in the service of Thomas Goodere of Collingham,...
(1563–1631).
Plot introduction
The story concerns John Franklin, the pilot of a Wellington Bomber who badly injures his arm when he brings his plane down in Occupied France at the height of the Second world War. He and his crew make their way to an isolated farmhouse and are taken in by the family of a French farmer. Plans are made to smuggle the them back to Britain via VichyVichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
controlled Marseilles but Franklin's conditions worsens and he remains at the farm during the hot summer weeks that follow and falls in love with the farmer's daughter Françoise. Eventually they make the hazardous journey together by rowing boat and bicycle...
Adaptations
It was adapted into a 4-part television mini-series in 1980 for the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
starring David Beames as Franklin and Cécile Paoli
Cécile Paoli
Cécile Paoli is a French actress who is also well known on British television from the series Sharpe, Bergerac and Holby City.She played Isabelle de Chamonpierre in the 1989 television serial The Ginger Tree, based on the novel by Oswald Wynd. In Sharpe, she portrayed Lucille Castineau.-External...
as Françoise. This production is available on DVD, distributed by Acorn Media UK
Acorn Media UK
Acorn Media UK is a DVD publisher which distributes and sells home video products with a particular focus on British television.- Company history :The company was founded in 1997 when Lesley Fromant set up a branch of parent company Acorn Media in the UK....
. In November 2009, BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
broadcast a two part dramatisation by Maddy Fredericks in the Classic Serial strand.