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Title: Flanagans Run

Author: Tom McNab

Narrator: Rupert Degas

Format: Abridged

Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-19-10

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

During the Depression the ebullient American entrepreneur Charles Flanagan assembles 2,000 runners from all corners of the earth, to run from Los Angeles to New York for prize-money of $150,000. Flanagans Trans-America runners face 3,000 miles, across the Mojave desert and the frozen Rockies, running a daily average of 50 miles for three months. The American sports establishment, however, is desperate to crush what it sees as a professional challenge to the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Every day is therefore a struggle for survival, for Flanagan himself as well as the runners. Flanagans Run is an epic tale, and a testimony to the strength of the human spirit.

Editorial Reviews:

In 1931, wheeler-dealer, gambler, and promoter Charles Flanagan offers an enormous jackpot to the winner of the first-ever Trans-America race. Over 2,000 people sign on, including professional and amateur athletes; ordinary, out-of-shape folks hit hard by the Depression; a contingent of Hitler Youth; a burlesque dancer; and many others. The novel chronicles far more than a cross-country footrace, and narrator Rupert Degas keeps the 3,000-mile journey exciting, exhilarating, and exhausting. Degas gives substance to McNab's detailed character snapshots with impeccable accents and energetic personality shifts. His narration of the constantly changing American landscape provides a keen sense of place. Degas's sensitive performance of this epic adventure makes the listener the clear winner.

Members Reviews:

A great read and a fond memory

I remember this book so fondly when it first came out in the 80s and when I spoke with some young marathon runners who had never heard of it, I ordered it and read it again with the same enthusiasm. Then I lent it to the marathon runners. Have not heard their reaction yet.

Prudence in Pennsylvania.

Chariots of Fire's rambunctious little brother.

First, let me say, as an endorsement of this book, I submit that I read a few chapters of it (7 and 8 in fact) serialized and in installments in the bi-monthly magazine "Marathon and Beyond": but I had just that one issue, Jan./Feb. of 2008 I believe and thought, wow! These two chapters are captivating reading, I've got to read this whole book! So I went to amazon and ordered it pronto and I'm glad I did. The serialized version in the magazine also contained illustrations adding to the story. That may have only been something the magazine did.

This is in some ways, the little brother ofChariots of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition)and it is a very historic novel. As an example, I certainly did not know that in fact, there were Olympics games held in Athens in 1906, yes and that throws the 4 year timing of the normally accepted Olympics off; so in fact, those were not accepted as being Olympics but came to be called the "Intercalated games" (look it up) with the Olympics proper being held in St. Louis in 1904 and then there were the 1908 games held London. It all gets rather interesting, but little historic tidbits the book gives you sets your mind to wondering. Those games held in St. Louis in fact, were originally going to be held in Chicago. The 1904 World's Fair was in St. Louis, so somehow they moved the games there too, as Paris I believe had them both at the same time. Of course, I have pondered the meaning of the historic event mentioned most frequently in the book and that has to do with the 1908 Marathon with Dorando Pietri.