Janie Hampton

Amusing and evocative descriptions of London's two previous Olympic Games, both from sporting eras where the excellence on display was clad in rather less self-importance than today. Or at least that's the sense left by this account's unearthing of personal recollections, and choice details, with plenty of humorous touches. This short book is delightfully illustrated with photos, cartoons, and mementoes of the Games. Memorable characters and athletes like Zatopek, Blankers-Koen, and the show more famed, rather comical Dorando Pietri share space with the unsung like the young British long jumper who were her Olympic blazer to her sister's wedding as it was "the smartest thing I owned". Worthy memories too of Horlicks instead of drugs, and of overseas teams bringing their own food supplies to the rationing-era 1948 Games: "Mexico sent liver, kidneys, and tripe; the New Zealand team brought with them condensed milk and mutton dripping". show less

Fascinating story of the start of the girl guides and all they did to aid the war effort. The first half of the book was riveting. It suffered in the later chapters by slipping into scattered anecdotes that skipped around in time, making it difficult to follow developments.
Still, I had no idea how essential guides were in the UK and how much good they did during the war. Worth a read if only to understand the lasting value of the guiding movement.
Note: the girls seemed to be much more show more respected than the scouts…

Merged review:

Fascinating story of the start of the girl guides and all they did to aid the war effort. The first half of the book was riveting. It suffered in the later chapters by slipping into scattered anecdotes that skipped around in time, making it difficult to follow developments.
Still, I had no idea how essential guides were in the UK and how much good they did during the war. Worth a read if only to understand the lasting value of the guiding movement.
Note: the girls seemed to be much more respected than the scouts… show less

I was reading this during the first week of the London 2012 torch relay, so made a good accompaniment to the build up to the 2012 games. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Olympics, particularly in the run-up to are immediately after this year's Olympiad. Not only is this a great account post-war Britain, where rationing was still in place, but it also provides an insight into how the games and sport has changed, but equally how other aspects remain very show more similar.

The really interesting parts were the descriptions of the preparations for the games and some of the lengths which members of the British team had to go to in order to compete. Some of the sections on the events themselves were a little lengthy and in parts heavy and a little over reliant on quotes. It would have nice to have heard the author's voice a little more often. Nevertheless a fascinating account of how the Games were revived after at the end of a bleak decade for Britain and the world. show less

This is a fine book. Great anecdotes, supremely inspirational and well researched. It's not the book I needed, though - I was looking for a good overview of what guiding was all about and I was recommended this. I wouldn't say it's a good starting point seeing as the basics of guiding aren't explained and it doesn't explore what guides do in peacetime. I'm still looking for a good all rounder on the topic but if you're already familiar with guiding and in need of some awesome girls and women show more doing awesome things, pick this up. show less