The True Story Behind 'Come to Grief' – A Family's Fight for Justice

Welcome to DickFrancis.co.uk

This site is dedicated to uncovering the true story behind the book Come to Grief by the late Dick Francis. For years, my family's private pain and personal experiences were used without our consent to create a bestseller. Through this site, I aim to share the full story — the one that was never told in Come to Grief.

The Real Story:

In the 1990s, I shared a deeply personal letter with author Dick Francis, detailing the tragic loss of my daughter Natasha to cancer, the emotional and financial struggles that followed, and the anguish caused by the invasion of our privacy. However, instead of offering empathy or support, Francis turned my family's story into a fictional narrative.

Come to Grief did not just borrow from our lives; it stole them.

This wasn't just a case of inspiration. It was a clear case of copyright infringement, where our pain was monetized for profit without our consent. From the arson that destroyed our trailer to the emotional toll of caring for a terminally ill child, the events in the book mirrored our reality in ways that no author should have the right to replicate without permission.  My Autobiography Bad Blood.

My Natasha was and in my heart still is!  This is a photograph of her: 

In Memory of Natasha — and So Many Others

Cancer doesn't just take lives — it leaves echoes behind. Echoes of love, loss, and everything we didn't get to say.

Natasha was more than my daughter — she was my best friend, my inspiration, and my light. Her passing left a hole in the world no fiction could ever fill.

Brian, Natasha's father, suffered quietly through it all. A loving dad and a devoted partner, he spent long days and nights in London hospitals beside her, while I remained in Jersey — heavily pregnant and unable to travel. We were pulled apart by distance but united by grief. His strength held us together when mine was running low. It's a part of the story that too often goes untold — the quiet heroism of the ones who wait, who watch, who endure.

Recently, a dear friend shared a message with me — and I knew immediately where it belonged. Right here, beneath Natasha's smiling face. For her. For Brian. For every soul this cruel illness has taken or touched.

One of the hardest things to hear is when the doctor says there's nothing more they can do.
Just two options: sedation or morphine to ease the pain.
Your world falls apart. Everything shatters.
Cancer doesn't just invade — it devastates. Even for the survivors, the aftershocks linger.
In honour of those we've lost. Of those still fighting. Of those who survived but were never quite the same.
Please take a moment, not to just share, but to copy and paste.
Then simply write "Done" and send it to: gaye@lindacorby.co.uk
You can also forward this webpage link to someone you know who may need to hear it. lindacorby.com/dick-francis/ 
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Why This Matters:

What happened to us wasn't just an unfortunate coincidence. It's a violation of our intellectual property and personal rights. I never consented to the use of my family's experiences, and yet, our most private moments were woven into the pages of a bestselling novel. The publishers of Come to Grief have continued to profit off this stolen story — despite being fully aware of the copyright infringement.

I've spent years fighting for justice, and this site serves as a platform to share the truth. This is not just about seeking compensation; it's about protecting the stories of real people and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.

Title: What is Media Blanket Syndrome? A Cowardly Curtain That Silences the Truth

Imagine living through something so shocking, so unjust, that it demands to be told. Imagine having the proof, the paper trail, the courage — but still being met with silence. Not because your story lacks substance, but because someone powerful doesn't want it told.

Welcome to the hidden world of Media Blanket Syndrome.

The Definition They Won't Publicly Admit To:

"Media Blanket Syndrome" is an unofficial but very real term used within certain journalistic circles. It refers to the deliberate suppression of a story across multiple media outlets, often driven by:

• Legal threats from powerful individuals or corporations

• Influence from large publishing or media conglomerates

• Political interests or elite connections

• Damage control by PR agents (such as the late Max Clifford, known for media manipulation)

Once a story is flagged as "blanketed," it becomes taboo. Journalists are warned off. Editors mysteriously lose interest. Even sympathetic reporters may go silent — not because they don't believe you, but because they're under pressure not to dig any further.

My Personal Experience:

This practice hit me personally when I began speaking out about the unauthorized use of my real life and that of my family in the novel Come to Grief by Dick Francis. I had written a deeply personal letter to him, detailing the trauma we had endured — the tragic death of my daughter Natasha, the betrayal of a former friend, the arson of our uninsured horse trailer, and much more. That letter was copyrighted and not for public use.

Yet, years later, I found our lives twisted into fiction — the same plotlines, same intimate details, even the exact phrase "come to grief" — in a best-selling novel.

It was clear what had happened. The emotional devastation was only worsened by the silence that followed.

Despite reaching out to media outlets, and even after journalists acknowledged the story's merit, nothing was published. I was told quietly that Max Clifford and others may have played a role in getting the media to step away. No one would go near the story. I even had a journalist say to me, bluntly, "You've been blanketed."

Pearson — A Giant With a Long Reach

Pearson, then the owner of Penguin Books (Francis's publisher), was — and remains — one of the largest media entities in the world. With that kind of power, suppressing the story of a grieving mother whose copyright was infringed upon was all too easy.

And let us not forget that Francis himself received honors, including visits to 10 Downing Street. Doors were opened for him. Mine were slammed shut.

Why It Matters

Media Blanket Syndrome doesn't just affect me. It is a dangerous weapon used to:

• Silence whistleblowers

• Bury inconvenient truths

• Protect reputations over justice

• Keep the public ignorant

It creates an environment where power can override truth.

But the Internet Changes the Game

Thanks to platforms like this website, and brave independent media, we no longer need to rely on the mainstream to tell our truths. We can tell them ourselves — loudly, clearly, and with evidence to back every word.

If you've ever had a story blanketed, if you've been silenced, or if you're only now realizing this practice even exists — I encourage you to share this page, visit www.lindacorby.com/dick-francis, and keep the conversation going.

The truth should never be at the mercy of power.

Title: What is Media Blanket Syndrome? A Cowardly Curtain That Silences the Truth

Imagine living through something so shocking, so unjust, that it demands to be told. Imagine having the proof, the paper trail, the courage — but still being met with silence. Not because your story lacks substance, but because someone powerful doesn't want it told.

Welcome to the hidden world of Media Blanket Syndrome.

The Definition They Won't Publicly Admit To:

"Media Blanket Syndrome" is an unofficial but very real term used within certain journalistic circles. It refers to the deliberate suppression of a story across multiple media outlets, often driven by:

• Legal threats from powerful individuals or corporations

• Influence from large publishing or media conglomerates

• Political interests or elite connections

• Damage control by PR agents (such as the late Max Clifford, known for media manipulation)

Once a story is flagged as "blanketed," it becomes taboo. Journalists are warned off. Editors mysteriously lose interest. Even sympathetic reporters may go silent — not because they don't believe you, but because they're under pressure not to dig any further.

My Personal Experience:

This practice hit me personally when I began speaking out about the unauthorized use of my real life and that of my family in the novel Come to Grief by Dick Francis. I had written a deeply personal letter to him, detailing the trauma we had endured — the tragic death of my daughter Natasha, the betrayal of a former friend, the arson of our uninsured horse trailer, and much more. That letter was copyrighted and not for public use.

Yet, years later, I found our lives twisted into fiction — the same plotlines, same intimate details, even the exact phrase "come to grief" — in a best-selling novel.

It was clear what had happened. The emotional devastation was only worsened by the silence that followed.

Despite reaching out to media outlets, and even after journalists acknowledged the story's merit, nothing was published. I was told quietly that Max Clifford and others may have played a role in getting the media to step away. No one would go near the story. I even had a journalist say to me, bluntly, "You've been blanketed."

Pearson — A Giant With a Long Reach

Pearson, then the owner of Penguin Books (Francis's publisher), was — and remains — one of the largest media entities in the world. With that kind of power, suppressing the story of a grieving mother whose copyright was infringed upon was all too easy.

And let us not forget that Francis himself received honors, including visits to 10 Downing Street. Doors were opened for him. Mine were slammed shut.

Why It Matters

Media Blanket Syndrome doesn't just affect me. It is a dangerous weapon used to:

• Silence whistleblowers

• Bury inconvenient truths

• Protect reputations over justice

• Keep the public ignorant

It creates an environment where power can override truth.

But the Internet Changes the Game

Thanks to platforms like this website, and brave independent media, we no longer need to rely on the mainstream to tell our truths. We can tell them ourselves — loudly, clearly, and with evidence to back every word.

If you've ever had a story blanketed, if you've been silenced, or if you're only now realizing this practice even exists — I encourage you to share this page, visit www.lindacorby.com/dick-francis, and keep the conversation going.

The truth should never be at the mercy of power.

Copyright Linda Corby. All rights reserved.

Ask Yourself tyhis.

Original first letter To Dick Francis form Linda Corby

Last Letter to Dick Francis from Linda Corby

dick-francis-via-his-solicitors-taylor-joynson-garrett/

Open correspondence to Pearson Press group Ltd. john.mawer@pearson.com 

open-letter-to-david-cameron-conservative-party-leader/

Letter to David Blunkett from Linda Corby.

Letter: To CNN News 1/1/2007 

Copyright & Notice

© Linda Corby. All rights reserved.

Notice:
Please be aware that any correspondence I receive may be reproduced on this page or elsewhere. By sending such correspondence, you are granting me copyright permission to do so. Thank you.

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