Customer Reviews

The Red Rose Crew: A True Story of Women, Winning, and the Water

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being a female rower, especially an older one, has many challenges... and rewards. Something I've learned about from personal experience. They're difficult to communicate with those who aren't involved with the sport (the risk of terminal boredom being very high) but form an incredible bond with those who are. This book, on the experiences of the pioneers of women's rowing in the 70's, tells it like it is, and makes it fascinating. Dan Boyne has recreated the whole experience of these women, and it's an experience that is, fortunately or unfortunately, not so far from the present day. It's an impressive addition to the tiny canon of rowing-lit, and even more importantly to the growing canon of books about women athletes and competitors, and what it takes to be in the game. A riveting read.

I picked this book up expecting a vaguely enjoyable read but was quickly drawn into what is a hugely compelling story about women breaking through the prejudicial boundaries around their sport to record a historical result against the female(?) crews of Russia and Eastern Europe. Dan Boyne cleverly weaves the stories of the very different characters that made up the crew throughout the book skillfully drawing them together at the end. His writing is first rate and as someone who has lived in both the UK and Boston, US - the main locales for this book - I found it well researched and credible Rower or non-rower, male or female this is a terrific read

I just finished reading Boyne's latest book, the Red Rose Crew. It's fantastic. Boyne's lively and engaging style is perfect for this kind of history. Red Rose Crew is both informative and inspiring. I've been rowing for 10 years now, and I've recommended Red Rose Crew to everyone in my rowing club.Boyne's book is sure to motivate rowers of all ages and skill levels. Boyne's account of the 1975 Nationals, his description of that wonderful and anxious feeling all rowers have at the start line, made me hunger for the Spring season. As others have said, Red Rose crew is the best book on rowing since the Amateurs! If you haven't read Boyne's sculling book, it's also a must.

Team rowing is an activity that tests individual limits in a group setting like no other sport. Unfortunately for the public vision of rowing, the same need for uniformity of action that drives a championship boat, and the relative linearity of the contest, combine to preclude the heroics of the team rower from being displayed, understood or enjoyed in as entertaining a manner as the feats of athletes in other sports. As a result, rowing, the first modern sport and the best known team sport in America in the midst of the 19th century, is today largely marginalized in the public eye, and those who move the long boats are rarely seen on the great stage of public sport.

Dan Boyne has rendered a tremendous service to rowing and to sport history by taking a subject that attracts so little attention on today's popular entertainment menu, and writing an enthralling tale of achievement that brings honor to the author and his subject.

The eight is the capital boat of the sport, and the challenge for Harry Parker's nascent U.S. women's team was daunting - to compete against European squads with greater depth, experience, organization and support, while at the same time creating its own place within an often hostile and unconvinced US rowing community. Boyne moves deftly betwen the stories of the parts and the whole, bringing focus to selected individuals and putting others into context to complete the picture. He chronicles the progress of the team as pages fall inexorably from the season's calendar, building his pace and pressure with each decision that establishes the crew's makeup. At the end, the story surges down the course to its dramatic and satisfying finish, and Dan Boyne has produced a tremendous saga well told, and an invaluable contribution to the too small corpus of rowing history. More, please!

If Odysseus could have read Daniel J.Boyne's book `The Red Rose Crew" he would have had no reason to be tied to the mast to cox his ear-waxed crew through the Sirenum Scopuli unscathed. The Sirens would have gladly faced their un-timely end with the knowledge that women's rowing had a champion who took the time and effort to chronical a arduous voyage that will be remembered as the break though of woman's competitive rowing in the United States. In a time when story telling has been all but lost as a media to impart history or knowledge, a well-credentialed Daniel Boyne has wove a rich tapestry of facts, protocol, commentary, technical knowledge and colorful antidotes into a narrative that are easily remembered and re-called. Every sport has its legends; Babe Ruth, Billie Jean King, Pele', the utterance of each name conjures a vivid image of the particular athlete's prowess and character. US women's rowing has Ernestine Bayer, Carie Graves, Gail Pierson, and Harry Parker just to mention a few of the people Daniel J.Boyne has profiled as the "Who's Who" of US women's rowing. One of the many pearls of rowing information the author relates is how a good crew has the characteristics of a good baseball team. Rowers spend many hours debating the age-old rower's question of whether power, or technique is more important or why coaches' conduct seat races. Mr. Boyne's account of how the `The Red Rose Crew" was formulated is a wealth of information for any rower or coach looking for the literal and figurative gut wrenching answers. Rowers and coaches who have, or will have to weather the trials and travail of choosing and rowing into the seats of a boat will relate to the myriad of variables and anguish and elation. US Rowing is fortunate that Daniel J.Boyne has taken the time and energy to share his knowledge and insight of where US Women's rowing has been and the inevitable heights that it destined to rise.

John Wall, Ancient Mariner Berkshire County, USA 6/10/01

The Red Rose Crew is an excellent, informative, and engaging book for fans of any sport. Though I have never picked up an oar, I greatly enjoyed Boyne's character development and storytelling skills. In an era in which women athletes must often look pretty to court fan support, Boyne focuses on the courage, strength and poise of these pioneers without romanticizing away their flaws. The book is a great read and the plot transcends the sport of rowing. It is an essential read for female athletes in their teens and 20's who are often not aware of the doors that pioneering women athletes had to break down.

As a twenty something female athlete, it's hard for me to imagine a time when sports weren't as available for girls and women as they are today. I've always been given athletic opportunity and have been fortunate never to feel marginalized because of my unavoidable female status. Boyne's new book, "The Red Rose Crew" tells of a much different time when few women rowed, much less were given serious opportunities to compete. His story, which is really the story of a strong group of women and their male coaches who believed in them, is informative, thoughtful, insightful, honest and well-told. You don't need to be a rowing afficianado to get into this book. Rather, you simply need to be ready for a good story and to be left with feeling like you want go out and pick up an oar, even if you've never been in a boat before.

Boyne's male perspective may, at first, make some (female) readers skeptical about his ability to make sense of an experience that hinges on the main players being female and everyone else--those getting in their way--being male. But Boyne's sensitivity to the experiences of these athletes and his sincere interest and love of the sport helps to create an honest narrative that I think few would be able to recreate, male or female. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to take a break from fiction and who has even a remote interest in the world of amateur sport.

What an absolutely fantastic book! Finishing it (as i did) just before my national team's hottest hope competeted in sydney- wow! I have never felt so utterly compelled to achieve as i did after reading this book. I am a part time cox (the little one that shouts in the rowing boat) and am conviced that this book makes excellent reading for ANYONE competing at anything- but the motivational vocabulary its given me to use in my sport is something my crew already appreciates. Please, author, write more!!!

Dan Boyne has written a riveting story of determination, drive, talent and committment as he chronicles the early history of American woman in international rowing competition. The book includes a compelling profile of Carie Graves, arguably the finest American woman rower and Harry Parker, legendary Harvard crew coach. Harry's job was to select 9 women from a pool of 36 talented athletes to compete in the 1975 World Championship. Women in American rowing were a new phenomena and not highly regarded by the international rowing community. The book describes the selection and training of the crew and, finally, the racing at the Worlds and the surprising result. Boyne weaves a wonderfully entertainer story and it's hard to put down. This is "must" read for any rower, man or women, or anyone interested in what it takes to get to the top in international competition.

If you love rowing, if you love sports, if you're interested in historical moments .... this book is wonderful. I have read it and re-read it. I have lent it and gifted it. This is the true story of several remarkable women athletes. It is extremely well written and takes you through the story with grace and passion. I think I'll go read it again!