The Danger 4 5 by Dick Francis 6

Penguin Readers Factsheets l e v e l E

T e a c h e r’s n o t e s 1

3 The Danger 4 5 by Dick Francis 6

S U M M A R Y INTERMEDIATE

he Danger is a crime thriller set in the international began to work for the Sunday Express newspaper, where T horse-racing world. The narrator of the story, he stayed for 16 years. Andrew Douglas, works for an organization called His first novel, Dead Cert, appeared in 1962. He has Liberty Market, which rescues victims of kidnappings. written approximately one book per year ever since, Andrew is called to a kidnapping in Bologna, Italy. The spending six months on research and six months on the victim is Alessia Cenci, a jockey. When the police rescue writing. Most of his novels have been translated into more attempt goes wrong, Andrew has to renegotiate with the than 30 languages. kidnappers, collect the victim, and take her home. He and his wife live in the Caribbean, returning to Britain Alessia visits a girl friend at her stables in England. While every year to attend the Grand National. she and Andrew are visiting the races in Brighton, England, another kidnap takes place. This time it is the young son of a racehorse owner. Andrew and his B A C K G R O U N D A N D T H E M E S colleague, Tony, manage to rescue the little boy and it The Danger was written in 1983. It deals with the crime of becomes clear that the same person is behind the two kidnapping, which, in the 1970s and 80s, became more kidnappings. frequent among criminals and terrorists around the world. Then in the USA a third kidnap takes place. Andrew is Kidnappers are usually well-organized but extre m e l y again asked to help, and in the process gets kidnapped ruthless and violent people. himself. By this time, however, the identity of the The story begins in Italy. Criminal kidnappers here have kidnapper has been discovered by the police and there is often taken children, beginning in 1973 with Paul Getty III, a dramatic and violent showdown. grandson of one of the richest men in the world. When the family at first refused to pay the ransom, the kidnappers ABOUT DICK FRANCIS cut off the boy’s ear. He was eventually released after a ransom of $2.5 million was paid. Some politically Dick Francis, an award-winning author, is one of the most motivated kidnappings have also been carried out in Italy. successful and popular British crime writers of all time. He For example, in 1978 the Red Brigades, a student terrorist always writes about the world of horse-racing. group, kidnapped a former Italian Prime Minister, Aldo He has had an extraordinary life, just as daring and Moro, and later murdered him. courageous as those of his heroes. Born in 1920 the son Kidnapping presents a difficult problem: how do you of a jockey, he dropped out of school at 15 and started to ensure the safety of the victim and at the same time catch substitute for his father in riding competitions. During the the criminals? In The Danger, the police in Italy are Second World War he volunteered for the Royal Air Force, p a rticularly unsuccessful. Their actions result in an where he was a pilot. increase in the ransom and threats to the life of the victim. After the war he returned to horse racing. He became a In England, one policeman co-operates with the Liberty professional jockey and won more than 350 races during Market personnel, while others are unhelpful to the point his racing career. In 1953/4 he was Champion Jockey of endangering the life of the little boy. Only in the US, and, as a result of this, rode for Queen Elizabeth the where the authorities have had long experience, do the Queen Mother. In 1956, the Queen Mother’s horse fell police seem more capable of dealing with this crime. seconds before he was going to win the Grand National Kidnappers always instruct victims’ families not to Steeplechase in Britain, one of the most famous and involve the police, so it is easy to see how a security dangerous of all horse races. After this, Francis was asked business such as Liberty Market might play an important to write his autobiography. In 1957, however, he had to role. Certainly Andrew Douglas and his colleagues are retire from horse racing because of a riding accident. He

© Pearson Education 2000 l e v e l Penguin Readers Factsheets 4 T e a c h e r’s n o t e s very skilled at rescuing kidnap victims and dealing with the photo. The other student(s) then look at the photos kidnappers. Andrew is typical of Dick Francis’ heroes. He and try to decide which photo Student A described. is young, single and a tough character. Although as the Chapters 7–10 narrator we know only a little about him, he is clearly Put students into pairs or groups. Ask them to write the c h a rming, reliable and a thorough gentleman. His end of the story about the kidnapping of Dominic Nerrity. Get students to read out their endings and have a class relationship with Alessia, the first kidnap victim, is an vote on the most likely ending. important link between the three kidnap stories. Will they fall in love? The reader is kept guessing until the end. Chapters 11–14 Put students into pairs or small groups. Ask each group to Alessia herself is an interesting character. First of all she think of new names for the chapters and to write them is a successful female jockey, which is perhaps rather down. They read out their new chapter names, but not in unusual. Secondly, through her, Francis shows us the the right order. Can the other students guess which chapter the new name is for? Which chapter names are excitement and enthusiasm felt by people who take part the best? in competitive sports, something he had himself Chapters 15–19 experienced. At the same time, Francis also explores the Ask students to work in pairs or threes. Teach the word emotional problems faced by victims of kidnapping. script. They should choose a suitable section of the book Alessia finds it very hard to return to normal life. In to make a script for a play or a film. The section should be particular, she cannot face a relationship with a man until quite short and consist mainly of conversation, but not telephone conversations. Possible sections are: a process of healing has taken place. • Page 41, lines 3 to 21. The kidnapper is a young man from a wealthy horse- • Page 46, lines 10 to 20. owning family who has fallen out with his father. We are • Page 49, lines 1 to 30. not told why he has turned to crime, but presumably for Students should copy out the dialogue, changing the money. Or is Francis suggesting that it is the world of format to that of a script and adding more words where racing itself which is responsible for him turning to crime? necessary. They can also add stage directions. After this Many types of people are involved in racing from the they can act out the section to the whole class. richest in society to the humblest and poorest. Perhaps ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK this exciting world, in which huge sums of money regularly Put students into groups of three or four. Ask them to change hands, provides the perfect breeding ground for write a different ending for the story. Ask the groups to corruption and evil. read their ending aloud to the whole class. Have a vote on the best new ending.

Communicative activities G l o s s a r y The following teacher-led activities cover the same It will be useful for your students to know the following new words. sections of text as the exercises at the back of the reader, They are practised in the ‘Before You Read’sections of exercises at and supplement those exercises. For supplementar y the back of the book. (Definitions are based on those in the Longman exercises covering shorter sections of the book see the Active Study Dictionary.) photocopiable Student’s Activities pages of this Factsheet. Chapters 1–6 These are primarily for use with class readers but, with the jockey (n) someone who rides horses in races exception of discussion and pair/groupwork questions, Madonna (n) a figure of the mother of Jesus can also be used by students working alone in a self- mask (n) something that covers your face in order to hide it access centre. ransom (n) the money paid to free somebody who is being kept as ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK prisoner shrine (n) a place that people visit to pray Write the names of the chapters in Part 1 on the board in victim (n) someone who has been hurt or killed by someone or a jumbled order. Put students in small groups or pairs and something ask them to arrange the names of the chapters into a Chapters 7–10 suitable order. Ask each group to say why they have locker (n) a cupboard where you leave books, clothes etc, at school chosen their particular chapter order. or a sports club for example ACTIVITIES AFTER READING A SECTION Chapters 11–14 burglar alarm (n) this makes a loud noise when a burglar gets into a Chapters 1–6 building Take in to class a selection of photos of different types of listening device (n) a piece of equipment which picks up noises so people. These can be real photos or magazine pictures. that you can secretly listen to people Put students into small groups. Give each group three or rope (n) a thick piece of string four photos and put them in a pile face down on the table. Chapters 15–19 Student A should take a photo, look at it and put it back root (n) the part of a plant or tree which grows under the ground and into the pile again. Student A then describes the person in takes water from the soil

Published and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by Carolyn Walker Factsheet series developed by Louise James © Pearson Education 2000 Penguin Readers Factsheets l e v e l

Student’s activities 1 The Danger 2 Photocopiable 3 These activities can be done alone or with one or more other students. Pair/group-only activities are marked. 4 5 Activities before reading the book 6 1 Read the introduction and the back cover of the book. (f) Andrew tells Pucinelli about the new ransom. Then match these people with the facts about them. (g) The man in the leather jacket is probably a (a) Alessia Cenci newspaper reporter. INTERMEDIATE (b) Dominic Nerrity (h) Paolo speaks to his daughter Alessia. (c) Morgan Freemantle (i) The shrine is outside the town of Mazara. (d) Andrew Douglas Chapters 4–6 (i) is a child (ii) is a woman 1 Look at these sentences and: (iii) is kidnapped in England • Say who is talking; (iv) must find Alessia • Say who the person is talking to; (v) is twenty-three • Look at the words in black letters and say what the (vi) is kidnapped in the US person is talking about. (vii) is a jockey (a) ‘Something about my things being ready, and to (viii) has been held by kidnappers for over five weeks go and get them.’ (ix) must find the kidnapper (b) ‘Perhaps the place where we left the ransom money.’ 2 Using a book of maps, find these places: England, Washington in USA, Italy, Bologna in Italy (c) ‘Things are happening here.’ (d) They telephoned you very soon after Alessia was home.’ Activities while reading the book (e) ‘Two or three days if I think the girl is going to be OK.’ CHAPTERS 1–6 2 Imagine you are Alessia. Write a letter from England to Chapters 1–3 your father explaining how you feel. 1 Number these 1–12 to show the order in which they CHAPTERS 7–10 really happen: (a) Andrew and Paolo put two thousand million lire Chapters 7 & 8 behind a shrine. 1 Answer these questions. (b) Andrew visits Alessia’s father, Paolo Cenci. (a) Where did the kidnappers keep Alessia at first? (c) Lorenzo Traventi is shot. (b) Why do you think Popsy thought Alessia would (d) The two kidnappers ask for an aeroplane. not ride again? (e) The two kidnappers go to a third-floor apartment (c) What exactly is Andrew’s job? with the ransom money. (f) Andrew talks to a man in a leather jacket. (d) How did Alessia know about Viralto? (g) Lorenzo Traventi tries to deliver the ransom 2 Which of these things ar e facts? And which things are money. only possible or probable? (h) Ricardo Traventi phones Paolo Cenci. (a) The kidnapper who talks knows the village of (i) Enrico Pucinelli arrives at the apartment building. Viralto. (j) Alessia is kidnapped. (b) Signor Cenci is going to give a reward for the (k) The kidnappers ask Paolo Cenci for more money. return of the ransom money. (l) Paolo and Andrew go to Mazara. (c) Alessia did not stay in the village of Viralto. 2 Are these sentences true or false? (d) Alessia stayed in a small building at the Hotel (a) The carabinieri shoots Lorenzo. Vistaclara. (b) Andrew wants the kidnappers to escape. (e) Alessia was taken to the hotel in a van. (c) Pucinelli is going to give the kidnappers an (f) One of the kidnappers worked at the hotel. aeroplane. (g) Horses used to be kept at the Hotel Vistaclara. (d) The two kidnappers are working for someone else. (e) The kidnappers phone Cenci at his house.

Chapters 9 & 10 from the kidnappers’ house. Talk about your plans. 1 Fill in the missing names. Talk about what the police are going to do, when and where. Talk about what you both are going to do, Nerrity, Ordinand, Eagler, Andrew, Miranda, Brighton, when and where. Dominic, West Wittering, Liberty Market, John, Alessia 2 What kind of person is responsible for the kidnappings? Do we know any more about him at the (i) ...... and end of Chapter 14? (ii) ...... go to the races at CHAPTERS 15–19 (iii) ...... While they are there, (iv) ...... has a message from Chapters 15 & 16 (v) ...... about another Answer these questions. Discuss your answers with a partner. kidnapping. This time it is the three-year-old son of a (a) Kent Wagner says to Andrew: ‘And he may not like couple called (vi) ...... you.’ Who is he talking about? Why does Kent say The mother, (vii) ...... , was with this? her son, (viii) ...... , on the beach (b) Andrew asks Alessia a question on page 42. Find the at (ix) ...... , about an hour’s drive question and say what Andrew wants and why Alessia does not answer. from Brighton. (x) ...... (c) Why do you think Beatrice Goldoni’s ‘excitement remembers that the (xi) ...... s’ seemed mixed with guilt’ (page 43)? Do you think horse, (xii) ...... won the Derby Alessia is right about the possible reason? the year before. (xiii) ...... Nerrity (d) Look back at your answers to question 2 for chapters is angry with (xiv) ...... but she 9 and 10 and to question 2 for chapters 13 and 14. Do you think that any of the characters you have met was looking at a burning boat on the beach when her so far in the story could be connected with the son was taken. Detective Superintendent kidnappings? (xv) ...... is told about the kidnapping by (xvi) ...... Chapters 17–19 Finish the sentences. Use more than one sentence if you 2 What do you know now about the chief kidnapper? need to: Discuss your ideas with a partner or write them down. (a) Andrew decides to leave his room in the Sherryatt CHAPTERS 11–14 Hotel because ... Chapters 11 & 12 (b) Andrew recognizes the fourth man who kidnapped him because ... Match the two sentence halves: (c) Andrew says to Pietro Goldoni that he doesn’t know (a) John Nerrity is angry with Miranda because ... his name because ... (b) Detective Superintendent Rightsworth ... (d) Andrew thinks Pietro will kill him because ... (c) John Nerrity cares more about his money ... (e) Kent Wagner knows that Morgan Freemantle is in the (d) Eagler thinks that perhaps ... house near the tree because ... (e) John Nerrity is a fool because ... (f) Miranda is frightened because the police ... Activities after reading the book (g) Andrew and Tony discover that ... 1 Discuss these questions with a partner or write your (i) are planning to do the same as the police in Bologna answers. did. (a) What is your opinion of the ending of this story? (ii) Dominic is in the house with three floors. Do you think it is a good ending? Why or why (iii) the little boy was taken away in a boat. not? (iv) he does not want Liberty Market’s help any more. (b) Are there any parts of the story which are difficult (v) he is worried about his business. to believe? If yes, which parts and why? (vi) does not like Andrew and Tony. 2 Look in your dictionary for to commit (a crime). Then (vii) than about his son’s safety. discuss the following questions. (a) Pietro Goldoni comes from a rich family. He went Chapters 13 & 14 to university. Why do you think he became a 1 Work with a partner. You are Tony and Andrew. It is criminal? the evening before you are going to steal Dominic (b) What makes people commit crimes?

Published and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by Carolyn Walker Factsheet series developed by Louise James © Pearson Education 2000