This was a good one. Having now read it, I'm disappointed it took me so long to get to it! It's an underdog/against-all-odds story in the manner of Seabiscuit or Unbroken, and told almost as well.
According to the subtitle, it's the story of Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Really it's the story of one American, Joe Rantz, and his boat's epic quest. Sure, there are descriptions of and passages about the other rowers and their coxswain, but it's Joe who the book really focuses on, as far as the rowers go. He has a terribly rough childhood, which he overcomes at least sufficiently to find himself at the University of Washington. Once there, he is confronted by privilege which he had never before seen, and had to process that while seat-racing his way onto one of the fastest crews in the country. Which he does. And then onto the varsity crew. And then into the first varsity boat. And then to the Olympics. It's truly quite a story.
But, in my opinion, this book is, as much as anything, a love letter to George Pocock, the famous boat builder. Every chapter starts with a Pocock quote. Every passage about him or his boats is written with a reverence typically found only in referring to the works of great masters - Beethoven, Rembrandt, Shakespeare. And I suppose that, back in those days at least, George Pocock was the great master of his craft.
In short, highly recommended if you want a good story with good people at the center. It's a reminder that beauty and perfection are fleeting, and should be cherished when they appear.
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