BS: Fire Over England

Subject: BS: Fire Over England
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 05:24 AM

Last week I had to be in Tel-Aviv to run errands so went to a used bookshop. One of the books I picked up was Fire Over England by AEW Mason. Got it mainly for the cover, I admit, an old Pan with bearded gents, Elizabethan ladies, flames, ships and a swordsman in a black mask. The blurb says its about a young man from Dorset who spies in Spain for Walsingham in order to avenge the death of his father by the hands of the Inquisition. He then poses as valet to the Armada's admiral, in order to frustrate their designs. Has anyone read this, because it seems almost as much about the 1930s as the 1580s. Would appreciate any opinions (no spoilers, mind).

Subject: RE: BS: Fire Over England
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 07:55 AM

Not read it, but I remember (just) it was made into a film.

Subject: RE: BS: Fire Over England
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 10:20 AM

Ah, yes! That's the film that brought Vivian Leigh to the attention of David O. Selznick, who cast her as Scarlett O'Hara on the strength of it. It also brought Laurence Olivier to international attention.

Subject: RE: BS: Fire Over England
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 10:22 AM

Not read it but I'd be interested in doing so... being as how I'm from Dorset too...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fire Over England
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 10:34 AM

For those who don't know of him, he wrote 'The Four Feathers' amongst many others, and was born in Camberwell, Surrey, UK in 1865. His first novel was published in 1895, his last in 1946 and included the adventures of a French detective, M Hanaud (At the Villa Rose - 1910). He joined up aged 40 to fight in WWI, became an MP and died in 1948.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fire Over England
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 10:39 AM

Liz, I took a look at it gives his residence as Abbot's Gap, next to Hilbury Mecombe midway between Dorchester and Wareham and a little to the north of both of those towns.
I wouldn't be surprised if Abbot's Gap is made up, but is this the sort of area that Lawrence lived in?

Subject: RE: BS: Fire Over England
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 03:50 PM

Totally made up names but with similarities for the area. There is a Hilfield and a Melbury, niether of which are near Wareham, but yes, it is near where T E Lawrence lived - possibly a bit farther north though.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fire Over England
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 05:32 PM

Given the title of this thread I pictured a shot fired across the bow of England... Avast there!

Subject: RE: BS: Fire Over England
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 06:52 AM

Finished this the other. I was pleasently surprised. Great light reading, real thriller, and not all that dated. Perhaps a bit heavy in Gloriana-worship in places. The love interested sparkled and had a personality, the hero was strong but human. I liked the ending its a good one, without a moralising tone.