| Vendor | |
|---|---|
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Fletcher Agency
Melissa Chinchillo |
| Original language | |
| English | |
FOR THE GLORY
Eric Liddell’s Journey from Olympic Champion to Modern Martyr
In the spirit of successful historical narratives like Unbroken, Chariots of Fire, The Boys in the Boat, and Escape from Shangri-La, FOR THE GLORY is an incredible story of sacrifice and honor, with a compelling, emotionally gripping narrative. Eric Liddell was one of the most famous runners of the 20th century, and readers who bought The Perfect Mile and Born to Run will be drawn to his story and his passion for running.
Most people will know Eric Liddell as the Olympic gold medalist and one of the inspirations for Chariots of Fire. Famously, he would not run on Sundays, leading to ridicule and, some might say, Abrahams winning the 100 meters. But Liddell’s success on the track was never more important to him than his true calling, his faith. After winning the gold, he dedicated himself to missionary work, turning his back on his athletic life just at the moment he could have cashed in on his fame or taken it to even greater heights.
He travelled to China in 1925, working as a science teacher in a local school and a local missionary. He kept running, beating the best sprinters from the French and Japanese Olympic teams who happened to tour the country, including racing against German star Otto Pelzer. But their lives were not easy -- he and his family lived in one of the poorest provinces and were increasingly troubled with the encroaching Japanese invasion. By the time he could see war on the horizon, Liddell put Florence, his pregnant wife, and children on a boat to Canada, while he stayed behind, his conscience compelling him to stay among the Chinese. With only rare telegrams between him and his family connecting them, he and thousands of other westerners were eventually interned at the workcamp Weihsen.
Once imprisoned, Liddell did what he was born to do: to practice his faith and his sport. He became the moral centre in an unbearable world. He was the one the people turned to for guidance and support, organizing classes and baseball games; he finally broke his Sunday observance—something the world could never convince him to do before—to referee a hockey match in order to keep the peace between the teams.
Duncan Hamilton will investigate whether or not Churchill bartered for his release before the end of the war, and if it was true that Liddell gave up his place on a rescue boat for the sake of a pregnant woman. How many lives did he save in Weihsen? Liddell died of a brain tumor in the camp and was buried in China. His gravesite was unknown until 1989, when it was rediscovered and a school erected near the grounds in his honor.
Duncan Hamilton is a celebrated, award-winning sportswriter who has been nominated for the William Hill Award five times and won it twice. His most recent book is Immortal: The Definitive Biography of George Best, and he’s also the author of The Footballer Who Could Fly and The Unreliable Life of Harry the Valet, among other titles. He was formerly the deputy editor of The Yorkshire Post and he writes for The Sunday Times among other publications.
He travelled to China in 1925, working as a science teacher in a local school and a local missionary. He kept running, beating the best sprinters from the French and Japanese Olympic teams who happened to tour the country, including racing against German star Otto Pelzer. But their lives were not easy -- he and his family lived in one of the poorest provinces and were increasingly troubled with the encroaching Japanese invasion. By the time he could see war on the horizon, Liddell put Florence, his pregnant wife, and children on a boat to Canada, while he stayed behind, his conscience compelling him to stay among the Chinese. With only rare telegrams between him and his family connecting them, he and thousands of other westerners were eventually interned at the workcamp Weihsen.
Once imprisoned, Liddell did what he was born to do: to practice his faith and his sport. He became the moral centre in an unbearable world. He was the one the people turned to for guidance and support, organizing classes and baseball games; he finally broke his Sunday observance—something the world could never convince him to do before—to referee a hockey match in order to keep the peace between the teams.
Duncan Hamilton will investigate whether or not Churchill bartered for his release before the end of the war, and if it was true that Liddell gave up his place on a rescue boat for the sake of a pregnant woman. How many lives did he save in Weihsen? Liddell died of a brain tumor in the camp and was buried in China. His gravesite was unknown until 1989, when it was rediscovered and a school erected near the grounds in his honor.
Duncan Hamilton is a celebrated, award-winning sportswriter who has been nominated for the William Hill Award five times and won it twice. His most recent book is Immortal: The Definitive Biography of George Best, and he’s also the author of The Footballer Who Could Fly and The Unreliable Life of Harry the Valet, among other titles. He was formerly the deputy editor of The Yorkshire Post and he writes for The Sunday Times among other publications.