The world's fastest man : the extraordinary life of cyclist Major Taylor, America's first Black sports hero Cover Image

Book

The world's fastest man : the extraordinary life of cyclist Major Taylor, America's first Black sports hero / Michael Kranish.

Summary:

"In the tradition of The Boys in the Boat and Seabiscuit, a fascinating portrait of a groundbreaking but forgotten figure--the remarkable Major Taylor, the black man who broke racial barriers by becoming the world's fastest and most famous bicyclist at the height of the Jim Crow era"-- Provided by publisher.

Record details

ISBN: 9781501192593
ISBN: 1501192590
ISBN: 9781501192609
ISBN: 1501192604
Physical Description: x, 365 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, portraits ; 24 cm
Edition: First Scribner hardcover edition.
Publisher: New York : Scribner, 2019.
Copyright: ©2019

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliography (pages 343-349) and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

Acceleration. Birdie takes flight ; The rise of Major Taylor ; The president and the cyclists ; Birdie and Major in Indianapolis ; No such prejudice ; The bicycle craze -- The jump. The rivalry begins ; "Major Taylor's life in danger" ; The fighting man ; A rematch with Eddie Bald ; In pursuit of the championship ; "A race run for blood" ; A black man in Paris ; "The terribly dangerous and beautiful races" ; Voyage of the titans ; The caged bird sings ; "The strain is too great" ; A faraway land ; The changing world -- The finish. "I need your prayers" ; "My last race" -- Appendix 1: Major Taylor's cycling records -- Appendix 2: Major Taylor's training regimen.