The censor mechanism that most of us have to control our anger and strong feelings was lacking in Gordon Pirie's make up. Thus he quickly became a rebel in the media. His outspokenness was just what reporters wanted. Booth was clearly fascinated by Pirie's character. He has thoroughly researched Pirie's life: his early family days, his early career as a club runner with South London Harriers, the glory years of his competitive career, his overseas travels in Europe and New Zealand, and his last days as a cancer patient. Booth spends 25 pages on his childhood, 155 pages on his competitive years and a rather stretched-out 85 pages on his later life of coaching. The biography is full of details and witness accounts that help get to the essence of Gordon Pirie. I particularly liked his chapter on Woldemar Gerschler, Pirie's German coach. Booth explains the club culture that nourished Pirie early on. He conveys the importance of the popular White City in Pirie's career. He demonstrates how Pirie changed the general British attitude to athletics. He explains the economics of Pirie's ambition. No doubt, Pirie was arrogant. He looked down on the world from a great height. Despite his continual need for money, he always drove a Mercedes. I can think of only two people he really respected: Emil Zatopek and Woldemar Gerschler. His impatience, combined with his inability to sublimate his strong feelings meant that he fell out with a lot of people in his life. Pirie lived his life intensely. This was especially true with his training, which he later admitted was excessive. What a contrast he is with his hero Zatopek, who was a gentle, amicable soul, beloved by many. Maybe Pirie's intensity, which surely contributed to his success, was also the flaw that prevented him from winning many big races-though I am full of admiration for his running in the Melbourne Olympics.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

We are a professional bookseller dealing in second-hand, unusual and out-of-print books. This business is internet based. The books are stored in Old Oxted, Surrey and trade visitors are welcome by appointment.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

C P Books Limited
2 Beadles Lane, Oxted, RH8 9JJ, United Kingdom

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

All orders are despatched promptly when payment in full has been received. Orders
are posted the same working day whenever possible - usually for orders placed
before 3pm - or the next working day. Should you be unhappy with any book we have
supplied, we offer a full refund on return. Please contact us by email before
incurring any postage costs.

Right of withdrawal

If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

Information regarding the right of withdrawal

Statutory right to withdraw

You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.

Effects of withdrawal

If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to C P Books Limited, Oxted, United Kingdom, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of withdrawal

The right of withdrawal does not apply to:

The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.

Shipping Terms

Dispatched from the UK within 24 hours (books ordered over the weekend dispatched on Monday) by Royal Mail. Shipping costs are based on a book weighing 2.2lb or up to 1kg. All overseas orders sent by airmail. If your book is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.

Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Order quantity	5 to 10 business days	5 to 10 business days
First item	� 21.18	� 21.18

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.