| Edition |
First edition. |
| Description |
306 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 269-290) and index. |
| Summary |
At the turn of the 20th century, hundreds of handsome, lightning-fast racers won the hearts and minds of a bicycling-crazed public. Scientists studied them, newspapers glorified them, and millions of dollars in purse money was awarded to them. Major Taylor aimed to be the fastest of them all. A prominent black man at a time when such a thing was deemed scandalous, his mounting victories, high moral virtue, and bulletlike riding style made him a target for ridicule from the press and sabotage by the white riders who shared the track with him. This is the account of a fierce rivalry that would become an archetypal tale of white versus black in the 20th century. But it is also the tale of our nation's first black sports celebrity--a man who transcended the handicaps of race at the turn of the century to reach the stratosphere of fame.--From publisher description. |
| Contents |
In the age of progress, problem -- Free -- Flight -- Fire -- Six days -- New year -- Together -- Two seconds -- Civil War -- No limits -- Something at the end -- La belle epoque -- Twoness -- Steal away -- Australia -- February fires -- The last best race -- Home. |
| Subject |
Taylor, Major, 1878-1932.
|
|
Cyclists -- United States -- Biography.
|
|
African American cyclists -- Biography.
|
|
Bicycle racing -- History.
|
| Other Form: |
Online version: Balf, Todd. Major. 1st ed. New York : Crown Publishers, c2008 (OCoLC)605314726 |
|
Online version: Balf, Todd. Major. 1st ed. New York : Crown Publishers, c2008 (OCoLC)608434563 |
| ISBN |
9780307236586 |
|
0307236587 |
|
