Running For Their Lives by Mark Whitaker
In 1928 two extraordinary Englishmen competed in an unprecedented and fearsome event - a transcontinental road race across America that required them to run an average of 40 miles for 80 consecutive days. They were to become the most famous long-distance runners in the world: yet history has forgotten them. Peter Gavuzzi was a young working-class ship's steward, while Arthur Newton was a middle-aged intellectual who had taken up running to make a political point. Though separated by class, education and age, they became close friends and formed a successful business partnership as endurance athletes. They raced in 500-mile relays, in 24-hour events, in snowshoes and against horses; and they became the stars of a craze for endurance events that swept across depression-era North America. But as professional runners they were eschewed by the amateur running elite. Set against a turbulent backdrop of 1920s South Africa, 1930s Canada, war-torn France and 1950s Britain, Running for Their Lives is a story peopled with remarkable characters, unimaginable feats and tragic twists of fate. More importantly it is a homage to two inspirational and eccentric men who only now receive the recognition they so richly deserve.
A poignant account of unrecognized achievement… I shall find it hard to forget the two runners in vests and shorts who stand side by side on the dustjacket of this book -- Bryon Rogers * Spectator *
Whitaker paints a compelling picture of a world in which the virtues of old-fashioned professionalism and decency overcome class and race barriers.. Engaging, surprising and...affecting -- Alexander Larman * Observer *
A timely reminder of the best that the sport can achieve * The Sunday Times *
Well-researched and entertaining… Whitaker’s real achievement is to resurrect for recognition the careers of two genuine, if peripatetic, British sporting heroes -- Michael Beloff * Times Literary Supplement *
The author has done an excellent job in bringing [Newton and Gavuzzi] triumphantly alive from dusty archives with a narrative pace his subjects would surely have admired -- Simon Redfern * Independent on Sunday *
Whitaker paints a compelling picture of a world in which the virtues of old-fashioned professionalism and decency overcome class and race barriers.. Engaging, surprising and...affecting -- Alexander Larman * Observer *
A timely reminder of the best that the sport can achieve * The Sunday Times *
Well-researched and entertaining… Whitaker’s real achievement is to resurrect for recognition the careers of two genuine, if peripatetic, British sporting heroes -- Michael Beloff * Times Literary Supplement *
The author has done an excellent job in bringing [Newton and Gavuzzi] triumphantly alive from dusty archives with a narrative pace his subjects would surely have admired -- Simon Redfern * Independent on Sunday *
Mark Whitaker is a broadcaster and historian. After a first career as an academic, during which he taught in both London and Tunis, he joined the BBC in 1990. He was a reporter for BBC2's sports documentary series On the Line, and from 1994 to 2002 was a regular presenter of File on 4 on Radio 4. He then became a founding partner of the independent production company Square Dog Radio, which is named after a beloved Bernese Mountain dog. To his great regret he recently had to give up playing cricket. He lives in the West Yorkshire hills with his family and their animals.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780224082587 |
| ISBN 10 | 0224082582 |
| Title | Running For Their Lives |
| Author | Mark Whitaker |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Vintage Publishing |
| Year published | 2012-04-05 |
| Number of pages | 368 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |