R F Delderfield - thoroughly recommended

HarryT · 12-17-2011, 11:02 AM

I'm delighted to see that the books of one of my favourite authors, R.F. Delderfield, are now starting to appear as eBooks in the UK. A few of them have been available for some time in the US, but they're only just started to appear in the UK.

Mr. Delderfield specialised in the "sweeping saga" style of storytelling and, IMHO, very few writers have ever done it better, from the magnificent "To Serve Them All my Days" to the trilogy of "A Horseman Riding By".

If you've never read any of his books, I'd recommend "To Serve Them All My Days" as an excellent starting point. It's the story of a young man who is invalided out from the trenches of the First World War, and takes up a job as a schoolteacher in a small English boarding school. The book tells the story of his life as a schoolteacher right up to the outbreak of the Second World War. A truly great book, and one of the few that I can read and re-read, getting something new from it each time.

Strether · 12-17-2011, 12:09 PM

I'd second Harry's recommendation of "To Serve Them all my Days," which is a wonderful read. And after you've read the book, buy the DVD version of the BBC's production of the book, with it's wonderful acting. Older readers may remember it when it appeared on Masterpiece Theater yonks ago, as Harry probably wouldn't say.

Jim

HarryT · 12-17-2011, 12:39 PM

I'm perfectly happy to say "yonks ago"

. Yes, the BBC adaptation of it was excellent, but do read the book first!

jgaiser · 12-17-2011, 01:10 PM

Thanks for the recommendations, guys. Read the descriptions and recommendations on Amazon and you all have convinced me. Picked up a copy of "To Serve Them all my Days".

amward · 12-18-2011, 01:39 AM

Just love all of Delderfield's books, you can just get lost in them. So well written and such great sweeping sagas.... bliss.

HarryT · 12-20-2011, 04:17 AM

The first book in the "Horseman Riding By" trilogy has been released today (I'd pre-ordered it on my Kindle). This was one of those infuriating situations where books 2 and 3 were available, but not book 1

.

basschick · 12-20-2011, 08:06 AM

thanks for the recommendation, Harry. i downloaded a sample, and i expect to pick it up and spend some quality time reading.

Dr. Drib · 12-21-2011, 08:23 AM

Ok, Harry. I blame you yet AGAIN!

I just bought, "To Serve Them all my Days."

Don

HarryT · 12-21-2011, 08:33 AM

Great! I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

carpetmojo · 12-22-2011, 06:03 PM

Absolutely, totally, agree with all that's been said - a wonderfully evocative canon of work, beautifully structured and so well written, with just the right amount of sentiment at the right times.
A very undervalued writer, to my mind.

reader37 · 02-07-2012, 05:09 PM

I would love to read the Horseman Riding By series, but I cant get it in the US? I would happily pay- any ideas?

carpetmojo · 02-07-2012, 06:10 PM

Harry, I shall now be able to pass on my threadbare phys-copy of the trilogy to some deserving soul !

What I find so good, considering the the subject (fascinating), and the era it was written, is how undated his writing seems. It is of an age, naturally, but that seems to gel so well . And "To Serve..." ? Well, if you find the old eyes welling up a bit at things like "Mr Chips...", you've no chance, really.

Both works are wonderfully engrossing - and I second all the good things said about the TV series.

DianNC · 02-08-2012, 06:37 PM

I have the DTB's of Delderfield and well remember how good they were at the time I was reading them. I'd love to have the ebooks, too, for a reread. Great story teller.

HarryT · 02-09-2012, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reader37

I would love to read the Horseman Riding By series, but I cant get it in the US? I would happily pay- any ideas?

It's only in the last couple of months that it's become available in the UK. Hopefully it'll be available in the US shortly.

Over · 02-12-2012, 06:57 PM

UK Amazon doesn't sell ebooks to Portugal and redirects to US Amazon, which says it doesn't have this book available for Europe.

12-17-2011, 11:02 AM	#1
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	R F Delderfield - thoroughly recommended I'm delighted to see that the books of one of my favourite authors, R.F. Delderfield, are now starting to appear as eBooks in the UK. A few of them have been available for some time in the US, but they're only just started to appear in the UK. Mr. Delderfield specialised in the "sweeping saga" style of storytelling and, IMHO, very few writers have ever done it better, from the magnificent "To Serve Them All my Days" to the trilogy of "A Horseman Riding By". If you've never read any of his books, I'd recommend "To Serve Them All My Days" as an excellent starting point. It's the story of a young man who is invalided out from the trenches of the First World War, and takes up a job as a schoolteacher in a small English boarding school. The book tells the story of his life as a schoolteacher right up to the outbreak of the Second World War. A truly great book, and one of the few that I can read and re-read, getting something new from it each time.

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12-17-2011, 12:09 PM	#2
Strether Guru Posts: 765 Karma: 2825929 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fresno Device: Kindle 1; iPad Air; iPhone 7; Kobo Libra; Kindle Oasis 3	I'd second Harry's recommendation of "To Serve Them all my Days," which is a wonderful read. And after you've read the book, buy the DVD version of the BBC's production of the book, with it's wonderful acting. Older readers may remember it when it appeared on Masterpiece Theater yonks ago, as Harry probably wouldn't say. Jim

12-17-2011, 12:39 PM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm perfectly happy to say "yonks ago" . Yes, the BBC adaptation of it was excellent, but do read the book first!

12-17-2011, 01:10 PM	#4
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Thanks for the recommendations, guys. Read the descriptions and recommendations on Amazon and you all have convinced me. Picked up a copy of "To Serve Them all my Days".

12-18-2011, 01:39 AM	#5
amward Wizard Posts: 1,299 Karma: 2081110 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SW Australia Device: Eco Eclipse, Sony PRS 350 (pink), Ipod Touch, Kindle Touch	Just love all of Delderfield's books, you can just get lost in them. So well written and such great sweeping sagas.... bliss.

12-20-2011, 04:17 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The first book in the "Horseman Riding By" trilogy has been released today (I'd pre-ordered it on my Kindle). This was one of those infuriating situations where books 2 and 3 were available, but not book 1 .

12-20-2011, 08:06 AM	#7
basschick Wizard Posts: 1,096 Karma: 4695691 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	thanks for the recommendation, Harry. i downloaded a sample, and i expect to pick it up and spend some quality time reading.

12-21-2011, 08:23 AM	#8
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,437 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Ok, Harry. I blame you yet AGAIN! I just bought, "To Serve Them all my Days." Don

12-21-2011, 08:33 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Great! I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

12-22-2011, 06:03 PM	#10
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Absolutely, totally, agree with all that's been said - a wonderfully evocative canon of work, beautifully structured and so well written, with just the right amount of sentiment at the right times. A very undervalued writer, to my mind.

02-07-2012, 05:09 PM	#11
reader37 Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: kindle fire	I would love to read the Horseman Riding By series, but I cant get it in the US? I would happily pay- any ideas?

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02-07-2012, 06:10 PM	#12
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Harry, I shall now be able to pass on my threadbare phys-copy of the trilogy to some deserving soul ! What I find so good, considering the the subject (fascinating), and the era it was written, is how undated his writing seems. It is of an age, naturally, but that seems to gel so well . And "To Serve..." ? Well, if you find the old eyes welling up a bit at things like "Mr Chips...", you've no chance, really. Both works are wonderfully engrossing - and I second all the good things said about the TV series.

02-08-2012, 06:37 PM	#13
DianNC Banned Posts: 1,431 Karma: 5222495 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook Color, Entourage Pocket Edge, iPod Touch 5th Gen	I have the DTB's of Delderfield and well remember how good they were at the time I was reading them. I'd love to have the ebooks, too, for a reread. Great story teller.

02-12-2012, 06:57 PM	#15
Over Wizard Posts: 1,462 Karma: 6061516 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cascais, Portugal Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2", OnePlus 6	UK Amazon doesn't sell ebooks to Portugal and redirects to US Amazon, which says it doesn't have this book available for Europe.