(subdue)Sprinting Through No Man's Land- 3.5 rounded up

[Booknblues]

On November 11, 1918 the Armistice was signed bringing and end to the Great War which had cost so greatly and the cost was perhaps the greatest in France where much of the war was fought.

French citizenry sought ways to rebuild and reunite their country. Among them was Henri Desgrange editor of L'Auto, a sports journal and founder of the Tour de France. He believed that restarting the Tour would be a way to support both his paper and France. The vision was to create a real tour, cycling race longer than anyone before had considered, one spanning France’s entire border.

Sprinting Through No Man's Land: Endurance, Tragedy, and Rebirth in the 1919 Tour de France is the story of this race. The race started with 65 men, but didn't finish with near that number.

It is a fascinating story, but not always told in the most fascinating way. While we need the historical background, it is not introduced in an entirely fluid or readable fashion.

[Joanne]

I enjoyed this a but more than you, I agree the background stories could have been more enticing. however 4 stars from me as I learned a lot about the race I had not known.

[Booknblues]

Joanne wrote: "I enjoyed this a but more than you, I agree the background stories could have been more enticing. however 4 stars from me as I learned a lot about the race I had not known."

It isn't that the background stories weren't enticing, I felt that they weren't incorporated very smoothly. It would sometimes take me a moment to realize that we had slipped back in time.

This is one which I would love for someone to do the modern day version of their race. The length, conditions and varied landscapes were really quite amazing. The race started with 65 men and I think by the end there were only 11.