A Free Man Greets the Dawn by Sir Francis Hinsley
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| Sealyham Terriers: thanks to West Wales Holiday Cottages |
Author: Sir Francis Hinsley
Publisher: Not known
Source book: The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh
In his youth, Sir Francis Hinsley has a great success with the widely acclaimed book A Free Man Greets the Dawn. Described as half autobiographical, a quarter political, a quarter mystical, it was hugely popular in the early twenties [1920s], and earned Sir Francis his knighthood. He has also written books of biography, travel, criticism, poetry and drama.
But he abandons novels for screenwriting and becomes chief script writer for Megalopolitain Pictures (in Hollywood, obviously) before moving on to the publicity department.
Hinsley struggles to rebrand the actress Juanito del Pablo (previously Baby Aaronson), as an Irish starlet. He is sacked and hangs himself.
Meanwhile, Hinsley’s housemate Dennis Barlow, a successful poet with half a dozen literary awards to his name, finds a job at a pet cemetery, The Happier Hunting Ground. His first, er, client is a Sealyham* terrier lying on a draining board next to the pantry sink.
When arranging Hinsley’s funeral at Whispering Glades, Dennis meets Aimeé Thanatogenos and falls in love with her. She is the loved one of the source book.
I did read The Loved One but a long time ago. I confess it was a bit of a battle to reread it and I stopped as soon as I found the details about A Free Man Greets the Dawn. That probably counts as cheating.
*The Sealyham terrier is a Welsh breed once very popular amongst the Hollywood elite. Famous owners included Elizabeth Taylor and Carey Grant. And apparently Princess Margaret owned two as a child (my mother wouldn’t even let me have a hamster!). The breed has lost popularity in recent years and is now considered endangered by the U.K. Kennel Club.
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| A Sealyham Terrier wins Crufts in 2009: thanks to Birmingham Mail |
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