Today We Die a Little - Hardcover

Richard Askwith

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0224100343 ISBN 13: 9780224100342

Publisher: Yellow Jersey, 2016

Synopsis

LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDThe definitive biography of one of the greatest, most extraordinary runners and Olympic heroes of all time, from the author of running classic Feet in the Clouds .On the track, his running made him a legend; off it, his charisma and humanity made him a hero. No runner has generated myth like Emil Zátopek, the Czechoslovakian soldier who revolutionised distance running after World War II. The minutiae of his victories and training methods, the poignant details of his generosity and downfall – all have been endlessly repeated and reinvented, but the full truth never told.Zátopek won five Olympic medals, set 18 world records, and went undefeated over 10,000 metres for six years. He redefined the boundaries of endurance, training in Army boots, in snow, in sand, in darkness. But his toughness was matched by a spirit of friendship and a joie de vivre that transcended the darkest days of the Cold War.His triumphs put his country on the map, yet when Soviet tanks moved in to crush Czechoslovakia’s new freedoms in 1968, Zátopek paid a heavy price for his brave stance as a champion of ‘socialism with a human face’. Expelled from the Army, he was condemned to years of degrading manual labour, far from his home and his adored wife. Rehabilitated two decades later, he was a shadow of the man he had been – and the world had all but forgotten him.Based on extensive research in the Czech Republic and with unparalleled access to Zátopek's family and friends, particularly his widow, fellow Olympian Dana Zátopková, Today We Die A Little evokes not just an extraordinary man but a glorious age of athletics and a dramatic period in European history. It strips away the myths to tell the complex and deeply moving story of the most inspiring Olympic hero of them all.

About this title

About the Author

Richard Askwith is a journalist for The Independent and author of two books: Running Free and Feet in the Clouds. The latter won Best New Writer at the British Sports Book Awards, was shortlisted for the William Hill Prize, and was named one of the three best running books of all time by Runner's World.

Review

With humor, passion, and a touch of folly, the amazing Zátopek reminds us of the pain and the glory behind every victory and the power of sports to bring people together and make history.” Martina Navratilova

A powerful look at one of the greatest Olympic champions of all time. When I met Zátopek at the New York Marathon, he was friendly, full of energy, and curious just as he comes across in these riveting pages. Learning more about his personal life and the unique challenges he faced during the Cold War as a Czech athlete, was fascinating. He had a great heart he was not just an iconic athlete; he was a peacemaker.” Bill Rodgers, Olympic runner and four-time winner of the New York and Boston Marathons

"A wonderfully in-depth and often emotionally charged piece of writing." Athletics Weekly

"An astonishing achievement... There are few writers as adept at capturing so lyrically the utter and incomprehensible strangeness of distance running... A joy to read."
Literary Review

"Before Mo Farah and Paula Radcliffe, there was Emil Zátopek - a Czechoslovakian soldier turned long-distance runner turned Cold War victim. His four Olympic golds, 18 world records and Communist party career are all laid bare in this definitive account." Shortlist

Edition details

• Publisher: Yellow Jersey
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0224100343
• ISBN 13: 9780224100342
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 480