{{Short description|1977 historical novel by K. M. Peyton}} {{about||the 1958 American television play|The Right Hand Man (Playhouse 90)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox book <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books --> | name = The Right-Hand Man | title_orig = | translator = | image = The Right-Hand Man cover.jpg | border = yes | caption = First edition cover | author = K. M. Peyton | illustrator = Victor Ambrus | cover_artist = | country = United Kingdom | language = English | series = | genre = Children's novel | publisher = Oxford University Press (UK) | release_date = 1977 | media_type = Print (Hardback) | pages = 218 pp (UK hardback first edition) | isbn = 978-0-19-271391-9 | isbn_note = (UK hardback first edition) | congress= PZ7.P4483 Ri | oclc= 3735422 | preceded_by = | followed_by = }}
'''''The Right-Hand Man''''' is a young adult historical novel by K. M. Peyton, first published in 1977. The book is set in 1818 in Essex and London, during the Georgian era. It tells the story of Ned Rowlands, a talented stagecoach driver who meets the three creatures he loves best on the same day: a horse, a woman, and the man who will become his employer, Lord Ironminster.
Lord Ironminster was a renowned and daring dragsman until he lost his right arm and his father in an accident. He is sick with consumption (tuberculosis) and under pressure from his mother to marry a suitable wife, settle down and produce an heir. Lord Ironminster is more interested in winning a wager of 5,000 pounds to race from his home to Whitechapel Church in less than 75 minutes. His cousins (who will inherit on his death) are also keen to win the wager.
The story details how Lord Ironminster tricks Ned Rowlands into coming to work for him as his coachman (his right-hand man), their efforts to win the wager, and the friendship that develops between them.
==Film== {{Infobox film | name = The Right Hand Man | image = | caption = | director = Di Drew | producer = | writer = | based_on = novel by K. M. Peyton | narrator = | starring = Rupert Everett<br />Catherine McClements<br />Hugo Weaving | music = | cinematography = | editing = | studio = | distributor = | released = {{Film date|1987}} | runtime = | country = Australia | language = English | budget = A$5,459,000<ref>"Production", ''Cinema Papers'', March 1986 p62</ref> | gross = AU $9,660 (Australia)<ref>[http://www.film.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/967/AA4_Aust_Box_office_report.pdf "Australian Films at the Australian Box Office", ''Film Victoria''] accessed 24 October 2012</ref> }} ''The Right Hand Man'' was made into a film in 1985, and released in Australian cinemas in November 1987.
===Cast=== * Rupert Everett as Lord Harry Ironminster * Catherine McClements as Sarah Redbridge * Hugo Weaving as Ned Devine * Arthur Dignam as Dr Redbridge * Jennifer Claire as Lady Ironminster * Ralph Cotterill as Sam * Anna Lee as Worn Woman
===Production=== K. M. Peyton's novel had been optioned by actors Steven Grives and Tom Oliver who formed a company, Yarraman, to make the film. Grives had acted in a mini series, ''Flambards'' also based on a novel by Peyton.<ref>"Sticking to the ley-lines", ''Cinema Papers'', January 1986 p44</ref>
Money was raised through the company UAA to make the movie which was mainly shot around Bathurst, New South Wales, in particular at Abercrombie House.<ref name="stratton2">David Stratton, ''The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry'', Pan MacMillan, 1990 p1610-161</ref> The shoot began 9 October 1985 and went for ten weeks.<ref name="burrowes">"Production round-up", ''Cinema Papers'', November 1985 p48</ref>
===Release=== The film was not a large success at the box office.<ref name="stratton2"/>
On 06 Oct 2021 the film received a Blu-ray release from Umbrella Entertainment as volume 9 of their ''Sunburnt Screens'' collection.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Right Hand Man (1987) (Sunburnt Screens #9) Blu-Ray |url=https://shop.umbrellaent.com.au/products/right-hand-man-the-sunburnt-screens-9-blu-ray |website=Umbrella Entertainment |access-date=8 December 2022 |quote=Release Date: 06 Oct 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093861/ ''The Right Hand Man''] at IMDb *[http://www.ozmovies.com.au/movie/right-hand-man ''The Right Hand Man''] at Oz Movies *[http://www.didrew.com/TheRightHandManGallery.html Gallery of pictures from film] at Di Drew's website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Right-Hand Man}} Category:1977 British novels Category:1977 English-language novels Category:British young adult novels Category:Novels by K. M. Peyton Category:Novels set in Essex Category:Novels set in London Category:Novels set in the 1810s Category:Novels set in 1818 Category:British novels adapted into films Category:Oxford University Press books Category:Novels set in Regency England