Sunday 28 April 2013

My latest book review at Pezcyclingnews.com...

 

Just in time for the Giro d'Italia in May comes my review of the only English-language biography of Italian cycling star Gino Bartali.  The review is here.

3 comments:

VeloJon said...

I really liked this book, but I think it's innaccurate to call it a biography of Bartali. The real focus of the book is Bartali's involvement with the Italian resistance during WWII, especially his support of Jewish refugees. The bike racing part of Gino's life is covered, but not in depth.

Sprocketboy said...

I would have to disagree! This is a biography for sure as the resistance element makes up 19% of the book's length. The remaining 200 pages cover Bartali's birth, social circumstances, personality, training ethic, family--parents, brother, wife--, cycling career both pre-and post-war, eventual decline as a sportsman and failure as a businessman and then death. There is background on general circumstances in Italy as well, but I can't imagine what other biographical information could be missing. His resistance work was an unknown part of that life but "Road to Valour" really is the complete life.

Enrico said...

Wow, I never realised Gino was a partisan. This book is now on my 'to read' list.