{"product_id":"first-ever-english-olympic-games-book-celia-haddon-9780340862742","title":"The First Ever English Olympic Games","description":"Quirky and funny, while also being a serious account, this entertaining little book takes a historical event, THE FIRST EVER OLIMPICK GAMES, and looks at what it reveals about life in England in the seventeenth century: the history, monarchy, religion and politics. In a delightful manner, Celia Haddon tells the story of an incongruous mix:  a Cotswold field and the Olympic Games and so brings history to life in a direct, readable and enjoyable way. The founder of the games, Robert Dover, was a lawyer and 'the Great Inventor and Champion of English Olimpicks'.  He had the support of James l who had himself written about suitable, manly sport, partly in answer to the Puritans who thought all games led to sin and sex. From the start Dover's games were a political, as well as a sporting, statement. The Civil War put an end to the games.  They were revived by Charles ll and continued into the 19th century when a Victorian Puritan vicar put an end to them on the grounds of licentious behaviour.  Today they are still held - but as a shadow of their former glory.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49507730358545,"sku":"GOR001750051","price":17.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":49938106253585,"sku":"CIN0340862742G","price":7.13,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0340862742.jpg?v=1750813361","url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/products\/first-ever-english-olympic-games-book-celia-haddon-9780340862742","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}