The Tour de France, Updated with a New Preface by Christopher S Thompson

The Tour de France, Updated with a New Preface by Christopher S Thompson

In this highly original history of the world's most famous bicycle race, Christopher S. Thompson, mining previously neglected sources and writing with infectious enthusiasm for his subject, tells the compelling story of the Tour de France from its creation in 1903 to the present. Weaving the words of racers, politicians, Tour organizers, and a host of other commentators together with a wide-ranging analysis of the culture surrounding the event - including posters, songs, novels, films, and media coverage - Thompson links the history of the Tour to key moments and themes in French history. Examining the enduring popularity of Tour racers, Thompson explores how their public images have changed over the past century. A new preface explores the long-standing problem of doping in light of recent scandals.

"There are several books to tell you who first won the yellow jersey or the identity of the youngest post-war winner of the Tour de France, the kind you might receive as a giftThis is sort of book you'd buy for yourself." //Inrng: The Inner Ring "This book is filled fascinating material... Thompson has made a great deal of sense out of this complicated story." Podium Cafe "A comprehensive history of France from the race's inception, long before Greg LeMond or Lance Armstrong were born." The Bike Blog-Albany Times Union

Christopher S. Thompson is Associate Professor of History at Ball State University.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780520256309
ISBN 10	0520256301
Title	The Tour de France, Updated with a New Preface
Author	Christopher S Thompson
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	University of California Press
Year published	2008-04-07
Number of pages	406
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.