Olympic Marathon: A Centennial History of the Games' Most Storied Race [Hardcover]

Charlie Lovett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 1997

For the first time, the complete history of the most famous race in the Olympic Games has been presented in Olympic Marathon--A Centennial History of the Games' Most Storied Race. Beginning with the legends of ancient Greece, this book traces the process of reviving the Olympic movement, including the establishment of the marathon--the only event specifically created for the 1896 Olympics. Following heroes such as Dorando Pietri, Emil Zatopek, Abebe Bikila, and Frank Shorter, the book includes a complete analysis of every Olympic marathon as well as tales from the lives of the runners. The stories of John Hayes, who won the race with the help of strychnine; 1936 winner Sohn Kee Chung, a South Korean forced to compete for Japan; and Mamo Wolde, who won the marathon with an infected toe only to end up as a political prisoner in Ethiopia, make this book much more than a sports history. The story of the long struggle to establish a women's marathon begins with a lonely female who ran the marathon course in 1896 and ends with the dramatic victory of American Joan Benoit in the first women's Olympic marathon in 1984. Completely up to date, the book concludes with chapters on the races in Atlanta in 1996, including the closest finish in Olympic marathon history. An appendix, photographs, and an index complete this history. An invaluable resource for all interested in the Olympics and marathon running.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Lovett examines the Olympic marathon race from its inception in 1896 through each Olympic game. His book is filled with historical facts and significant details about each marathon from start to finish. The character of the runners is often described, which makes the events more vivid to the reader.... This book is the first comprehensive work on what the author calls 'the most unpredictable contest,' the Olympic marathon. Highly recommended for all those interested in the Olympic Games and especially for runners.”–Choice

“The real strength of Lovett's book is in its recounting of each Olympic marathon....As a reference book for those interested in who participated, who won which marathon, when, where, and in what fashion, this book should be very useful.”–OLYMPIKA: The International Journal of Olympic Studies

About the Author

CHARLIE LOVETT is the author of Alice on Stage, Lewis Carroll's Alice, and Everybody's Guide to Book Collecting. He is the editor of The Proceedings of the Second International Lewis Carroll Conference and a series editor of The Complete Pamphlets of Lewis Carroll.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (April 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275957713
• ISBN-13: 978-0275957711
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,209,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Stories and Easy Reading, August 26, 2003

By 

"marathonguide_com" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Olympic Marathon: A Centennial History of the Games' Most Storied Race (Hardcover)

This book is made up of 29 chapters, one for each Olympic Marathon race (through 1996). The chapters average 6 pages each, which makes this book very easy to read. Each chapter/race is a fascinating story. And the book is very well written. A great read.