Jews and the Olympic Games: The Clash Between Sport and Politics - With a Complete Review of Jewish Olympic Medallists [Paperback]

Paul Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2004

No story so richly illustrates the interaction between sport and politics as the story of Jewish athletes and the Games. Here, each major event at the Games related to the Jews is covered in-depth, including: the story of the Jewish-Hungarian wrestler Karoly Karpati in Berlin, 1936; the German-Jewish high-jumper Gretel Bergmann, who was callously exploited, then discarded, by the Germans; the American sprinters, Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller; and the legendary Mark Spitz. From the first Olympics in Athens in 1896, through to the disasters and triumphs of Munich 1972 and beyond, "Jews and the Olympic Games", which features a list of the more than 250 Jewish medallists at the Games, is a powerful account of the conflict between sport and politics.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Taylor has produced a unique and compelling history of Jewish sporting achievement. He reveals how Jewish athletes have had to combat not only their Olympic competitors, but also an enduring, often lethal, anti-Semitism." -- Colin Tatz, sports historian and author of Obstacle Race: Aborigines in Sport. "Engrossing, innovative and original. Paul Taylor provides a fascinating glimpse into a neglected aspect of the modern Jewish experience; a window into a tumultuous and traumatic century. Through memoir, biography and careful reconstruction, he weaves a moving and dramatic tale, tracing the worlds and lives of Jewish Olympiads. Filled with bravery and pathos. Jewish fencers, athletes and swimmers straddle the stage. Inevitably Hitler's games and the Munich tragedy loom large. But Nordau's 'muscular Judaism' is at last realized." -- Milton Shain, Professor of Modern Jewish History, University of Cape Town. "Makes good use of the published sources and brings them to bear on the Jewish angle." -- Choice.

About the Author

After a career teaching Philosophy at universities in South Africa, contributing articles to academic journals (mainly on the philosophy of literature and the philosophy of mind), and writing commissioned pieces for Blackwells, Routledge and Oxford University Press, Paul Taylor has turned his hand to sports writing. This is the first of a number of planned writing projects.

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Sussex Academic Pr (August 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903900883
• ISBN-13: 978-1903900888
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,544,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant work for Jews and sports lovers, September 9, 2004

By 

A. D. Gold "Alan" (Sydney, New South Wales Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jews and the Olympic Games: The Clash Between Sport and Politics - With a Complete Review of Jewish Olympic Medallists (Paperback)

This book finally and forever puts to rest the myth that Jews aren't sportspeople. The list of Jewish competitors at the Olympic Games, winners of numerous medals despite a century of Anti-Semitism and restrictions, is staggering. Paul Taylor has done a wonderful job in bringing to the fore the Jewish sports stars, their stories, the efforts they went to just to compete on equal terms, and the frustrations they suffered. Taylor also details the anti-semitism of the Olympic movement and the naked racism of so many teams, team managers, and governments which prevented Jewish competitors from participating.
But most importantly, Taylor has given us numerous personal portraits of stunningly brave individuals who fought against the incalculable difficulties, just to become Olympians.