BEER AND BRINE:
The Making of WALTER GEORGE
ATHLETICS' FIRST SUPERSTAR
by Rob Hadgraft (2006) 234x156 mm
256 pages
ISBN 1-905328-20-6
£18.99
From 1st August 2007 all customers can take advantage of special postage rates.
Buy any two or three of Rob Hadgraft's three athletics biographies and pay postage on just one book (£3 in UK; £8 outside UK).
The second and third book will be sent post-free.
Please purchase through our eBay shop.
"Rob Hadgraft has a penchant for uncovering athletes whose stories have been buried under layers of dust and neglect. Hadgraft's painstaking research reveals George was more than a one-race wonder; rather a he was a lovable rascal with a destructive love of the ladies, alcohol and gambling." Daily Telegraph.
"This book is one of the finest sporting biographies you will ever read. Not only is the text illuminated with stirring reportage of the record-breaking races in which George took part, but it also provides the reader with as good a picture of mid- to late-Victorian England and the growth of sport as any book has ever done. Gripping from start to finish, it is meticulously researched and vividly encapsulates what sporting biography is all about. The story of George's early life in the idyllic Wiltshire countryside is beautifully told with plenty of social and political background, a feature which underpins the narrative throughout. This is a wonderful book, full of epic encounters, eccentric characters and unforgettable stories." Birmingham Post.
"Beer and Brine is a gripping account of a great runner, copiously researched and full of fascinating information. Rob Hadgraft has done a terrific job. Hadgraft's method is a sound one. As a good journalist he consults every available source: other historians and collectors; books, magazines and newspapers; letters and archives. He has even succeeded in finding descendants." Track Stats Magazine.
"Rob Hadgraft trawls through the archives for untold stories and long-forgotten gems. In the Walter George saga, Rob has unearthed a cracker." Worcester Evening News.
"Following on from his acclaimed biography of Alf Shrubb (The Little Wonder), Rob Hadgraft has now turned his attention to Walter George and with the same meticulous research and detail, charts his career from his early life as a sickly child to becoming the world's greatest athlete, plus a moving account of his twilight years and accompanying struggles. It's a far cry from these modern times of Grand Prix meetings, associated scandals and athletic millionaires - and as a read is far more interesting. Races against the legendary American Lon Myers are detailed with such clarity that the author appears to have been present." Running Fitness Magazine.
"This is fascinating blend of sport, shady practises and a man's amazing life. A great story - very strongly recommended." Glen Huntly News (Australia).
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