The inspirational story of three international runners from three different continents attempting to achieve what no-one else before them had managed – to break the four-minute mile barrier. It was the ultimate test of endurance, and the human drama that unfolded is told here for the first time.
In sport, running the four-minute mile was the elusive Holy Grail. For decades the best middle-distance runners had tried and failed – most considered the barrier to be beyond the limits of human endeavour.
Then in late 1952, shortly after the Helsinki Olympics, three men set out to challenge the record books: Roger Bannister, the Oxford medical student, the great British hero who epitomised the ideal of the amateur athlete; John Landy, the tireless Australian, the romantic who trained night and day in search of perfection; and the American Wes Santee, son of a Kansas ranch hand, a natural runner and the quickest of the three ('I was just born to run fast').
Three men, each of contrasting character, competing thousands of miles apart, but all with the same valedictory goal. The Perfect Mile is the stirring account of their quest for sporting martyrdom, charting their journey through triumph and failure, along the way capturing the moment when Bannister broke the record in a monumental run at the Iffley Road cinder track in May 1954. It was a feat that became one of the most celebrated in the history of British sport.
Far from bringing an end to the rivalry, this watershed moment turned out to be merely the prelude to a final climactic battle three months later – the ultimate head-to-head between Bannister and Landy in what was dubbed ‘the mile of the century’ at the Vancouver Empire Games.
Using exhaustive primary research into the period, including interviews with the three athletes as well as hitherto unexamined archive material, the author provides a fascinating account of what happened and an invaluable insight into the motivations and characters of three amazing achievers.
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‘Bascomb succeeds in seducing the reader into sympathising with them all and feeling involved in their individual stories’ The Spectator
‘The Perfect Mile is as inspiring as it is accurate and evocative’ Athletics Weekly magazine
‘Bascomb lets his wonderful story and its characters do the talking’ Sunday Telegraph
Neal Bascomb was born in St Louis, MO and is a graduate of Miami University. He began his writing career for Euromoney magazine in London before returning to the States to work as a book publisher for four years. He helped start the literary agency Carlisle & Company, and in autumn 2003 Doubleday will be publishing his first work of non-fiction, Higher. He is passionate about athletics and hockey.
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The Perfect Mile This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780007182787
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.15. Seller Inventory # G0007182783I3N00
Book Description Condition: Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A tan to the pages. Neat dedication on the opening page. Seller Inventory # wbb0023127875
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780007182787
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Used: Good. Seller Inventory # SONG0007182783
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. W4. Seller Inventory # 0007182783ST5
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Yellowed paper; Index. 560gms weight; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 376 pages. Seller Inventory # 34095
Book Description Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Bascomb delivers a breathtaking story of simple heroes and leaves us with a lasting portrait of a golden age of sport. In 1952 3 runners set out to break the 4 minute barrier - Roger Bannister, John Landy and Wes Santee. Seller Inventory # 008349
Book Description Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Bascomb delivers a breathtaking story of simple heroes and leaves us with a lasting portrait of a golden age of sport. In 1952 3 runners set out to break the 4 minute barrier - Roger Bannister, John Landy and Wes Santee. Seller Inventory # 007362
Book Description Condition: Good. Some outer edges have scuffs. Cover has creases and marks. Book content is in very good readable condition. Seller Inventory # 090180-14