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The Old Spring
One day in the life of an English pub-abounds with sadness, banter, and exuberant storytelling, showing all the communal spirit and camaraderie of a pub Dawn and Frank wake up one wet morning in the flat above their pub, the Old Spring. Today they have to meet the brewery representative, creepy Tim Green, and track down an error in the books-or face the consequences. Dawn has something else on her mind, the anniversary of an old tragedy for which she always felt responsible. Frank has a problem of his own-a secret that has ended his sex life with Dawn. Darren the cleaner, meanwhile, is haunted by the ghost of a long-dead landlord. The pub's "chaplain," Father Thomas, tries to rediscover his faith under the skeptical scrutiny of his tormentor, Alan. And, in the local hospital, pub regular Romesh drifts towards death on his magic carpet, while back in the bar, the tattooed man faces up to a life and death crisis of his own.
281 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Richard Francis
148 books2 followers The idea for writing TEAM came after the 9/11 attacks when
search and rescue dogs were used to find victims and possible survivors in the rubble. Why not have a dog help find the hostages and rescue them with his handler. On hikes and walks I would carry a note book and write down ideas for the story. And of course my inspiration and co-worker LT. has been to all my booksignings and also signs the book.
search and rescue dogs were used to find victims and possible survivors in the rubble. Why not have a dog help find the hostages and rescue them with his handler. On hikes and walks I would carry a note book and write down ideas for the story. And of course my inspiration and co-worker LT. has been to all my booksignings and also signs the book.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 22, 2010
had a terrific review in the Guardian at the weekend, and I'd just got a copy out of the library (first to take it out, I love that)...
Guardian review link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/...
..loved it, beautiful book, gentle and warm and drunken and funny.. proper review will follow (honest Karen - and all the others)...
finally, finally:
...full of warmth and affection for its characters, without glossing over their faults, indeed in some ways celebrating their pecadilloes, and with a marvellous attention to the ordinary. Last time I read a book of such loveliness it was by Henry Green. From me that's the highest praise.
Maybe the subject matter sways me: a day in the life of an English pub, sharing its plotlines among several characters - the landlord Frank, a man with a sexual secret, his wife Dawn, ditto, their employee Darren, a gangly youth prone to misadventure, and their various customers including a completely tattooed man, quiz show freaks Alan and Jerry, 'Father' Thomas who lives in a religious community (when he's not in the pub). There's a till discrepancy and the brewery are sending a man round to check the books, there's a threat of closure which causes some tension; 'Father' is wondering how to mourn the death of a colleague; Dawn is reminded of her brother's death on a bicycle years before. Somehow though the day ends in mini-triumph for almost all the characters, unexpectedly. Darren gets a girlfriend, Frank comes to terms with himself and Dawn has an exhilerating adventure. A great book.
Guardian review link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/...
..loved it, beautiful book, gentle and warm and drunken and funny.. proper review will follow (honest Karen - and all the others)...
finally, finally:
...full of warmth and affection for its characters, without glossing over their faults, indeed in some ways celebrating their pecadilloes, and with a marvellous attention to the ordinary. Last time I read a book of such loveliness it was by Henry Green. From me that's the highest praise.
Maybe the subject matter sways me: a day in the life of an English pub, sharing its plotlines among several characters - the landlord Frank, a man with a sexual secret, his wife Dawn, ditto, their employee Darren, a gangly youth prone to misadventure, and their various customers including a completely tattooed man, quiz show freaks Alan and Jerry, 'Father' Thomas who lives in a religious community (when he's not in the pub). There's a till discrepancy and the brewery are sending a man round to check the books, there's a threat of closure which causes some tension; 'Father' is wondering how to mourn the death of a colleague; Dawn is reminded of her brother's death on a bicycle years before. Somehow though the day ends in mini-triumph for almost all the characters, unexpectedly. Darren gets a girlfriend, Frank comes to terms with himself and Dawn has an exhilerating adventure. A great book.
October 25, 2017
Very brown atmosphere. Apart from that, not my thing I fear.
April 9, 2015
Richard Francis's book The Old Spring is one of those books that does not shout, does not go all out to impress the reader with co-incidence or out-landish characters, it does not have a denouement that compromises the rest of the book, and it is a far better read than many books that shout look at me.
Tindal Street Press is one of those independent presses that continually punches above its weight, publishing quality, award winning books, and The Old Spring continues this tradition.
The novel looks at the everyday lives, loves and labours of Dawn and Frank, who run The Old Spring, a pub, the type of which seems to be dying on the high street. The book looks at the importance of the pub to their friends and customers, such as Romesh, who is the most visited man in the hospital, and his illness is a recurring motif throughout the book. Father Thomas, is trying to relocate his faith in a world that seems to place instant gratification above faith, while Darren, The Old Spring's cleaner, and later bar man has his own troubles, with both girls, and the ghosts that he believe haunt the pub's cellar.
Dawn and Frank are in trouble with their brewery, about a missing £900, which the brewery's weasly rep Tim Green is investigating, and offers to help Dawn replace it in ways that don't include money, whilst Frank has his own doubts about his sexuality.
There are no inciting incidents here, it is just life happening to these well drawn characters. Life does not begin for them at the beginning of the novel, nor does it end, it just continues. It is a snapshot of life. Like Graham Swift's Last Orders this book looks at the camaraderie to be found in long term customers at bars, discussing life, and playing pub games over alcohol. There is humour here, but there is also pathos, humanity, and life as it is found.
Tindal Street Press is one of those independent presses that continually punches above its weight, publishing quality, award winning books, and The Old Spring continues this tradition.
The novel looks at the everyday lives, loves and labours of Dawn and Frank, who run The Old Spring, a pub, the type of which seems to be dying on the high street. The book looks at the importance of the pub to their friends and customers, such as Romesh, who is the most visited man in the hospital, and his illness is a recurring motif throughout the book. Father Thomas, is trying to relocate his faith in a world that seems to place instant gratification above faith, while Darren, The Old Spring's cleaner, and later bar man has his own troubles, with both girls, and the ghosts that he believe haunt the pub's cellar.
Dawn and Frank are in trouble with their brewery, about a missing £900, which the brewery's weasly rep Tim Green is investigating, and offers to help Dawn replace it in ways that don't include money, whilst Frank has his own doubts about his sexuality.
There are no inciting incidents here, it is just life happening to these well drawn characters. Life does not begin for them at the beginning of the novel, nor does it end, it just continues. It is a snapshot of life. Like Graham Swift's Last Orders this book looks at the camaraderie to be found in long term customers at bars, discussing life, and playing pub games over alcohol. There is humour here, but there is also pathos, humanity, and life as it is found.
March 11, 2016
This is an enjoyable book. It is a novel about the people who run and go into an ordinary pub in a small West Country town on a single wet autumn day. They're a very well drawn and believable crowd, and although not much actually happens in the way of events, their lives and their characters kept me interested and sometimes very amused. The character studies are quite penetrating and subtle and their interactions well done and I ended up feeling involved with them and genuinely caring what happened to many of them, which is always a good sign.
The book is very well written in an unpretentious and straightforward style, and I found it an easy and enjoyable read all round. I think that it may be a book which divides opinion, and it certainly won't appeal to anyone who expects a fast-paced plot and plenty of incident. Things do happen, but they are the stuff of everyday life and the furthest anyone goes from the pub is to the local hospital to visit a pub regular there. Nevertheless, I found it all quite absorbing and I would recommend The Old Spring as a thoughtful, amusing and well-written book.
The book is very well written in an unpretentious and straightforward style, and I found it an easy and enjoyable read all round. I think that it may be a book which divides opinion, and it certainly won't appeal to anyone who expects a fast-paced plot and plenty of incident. Things do happen, but they are the stuff of everyday life and the furthest anyone goes from the pub is to the local hospital to visit a pub regular there. Nevertheless, I found it all quite absorbing and I would recommend The Old Spring as a thoughtful, amusing and well-written book.
November 5, 2016
Dawn and Frank run the Old Spring, the local pub, but find themselves in a dilemma. The tills are down and with officials coming to pay a visit it is up to Dawn to take charge and sort out their messy finances and get them out of the sticky situation that could get them both fired. Meanwhile, the many customers of the pub are having their own dilemmas, be it with work or relationships and it seems only a stiff drink can solve some problems.
Not what I’d call a page-turner but an interesting, thoughtful book The Old Spring was a very different read. It focused on the menial details of everyday life, without much action and suspense and I guess that in turn sums up the actual workings and days of everyday life.
I gave the book 3/5 because although it wasn’t my favourite read, it did have some interesting points which gave me things to think about and was very different to every other book I’ve read. I’d recommend to someone who doesn’t mind a slow pace!
Not what I’d call a page-turner but an interesting, thoughtful book The Old Spring was a very different read. It focused on the menial details of everyday life, without much action and suspense and I guess that in turn sums up the actual workings and days of everyday life.
I gave the book 3/5 because although it wasn’t my favourite read, it did have some interesting points which gave me things to think about and was very different to every other book I’ve read. I’d recommend to someone who doesn’t mind a slow pace!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews