The Fast Men
Tom McNab

Hutchinson London 1986

stan dobry plus, z autografem autora

str. 345

format 13,5 x 21,5 cm

waga 415 g

Despite the superficial character portrayal, this is an engrossing look at theatrical life and the foot-racing phenomenon ("pedestrianism") in the American West during the 1870s. The main playersand racersare Professor Moriarty, Buck Miller and Billy Joe Speed (all aliases) and their ladies. As Moriarty's "Theatre of the West" plies various Western towns, with occasional trips "back East," he and his younger cohorts work different foot-racing scams on the locals. They never cheat at racing but aren't above confusing opposing bettors and runners ("fast men") as to their true identities. Almost all the action revolves around the psychological warfare, physical training and actual racing contests. The major high points are a world-record sprint in England and a climactic men-and-horses competition in 1878 Arizona. We also get interesting glimpses of life upon the stage and of such real-life people as P. T. Barnum, Leland Stanford and Edwin Booth. Even readers not much interested in stage lore or pedestrianism will find it hard to put this book down: the pace never flags.