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Berlin Games

How Hitler Stole the Olympic Dream

Guy Walters author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:John Murray Press

Published:12th Jul '07

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Berlin Games cover

The compelling history of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games - a cauldron of discord that forecast the horrors of the Second World War

The 1936 Berlin Olympics brought together athletes, politicians, socialites, journalists, soldiers and artists from all over the world. But behind the scenes, they were a dress rehearsal for the horrors of the forthcoming conflict.

Hitler had secretly decided the Games would showcase Nazi prowess and the unwitting athletes became helpless pawns in his sinister political game. Berlin Games explores the machinations of a wide cast of characters, including sexually incontinent Nazis, corrupt Olympic officials, transvestite athletes and the mythic figure of Jesse Owens. By illuminating the dark, controversial recesses of the world's greatest sporting spectacle, Guy Walters throws shocking new light on the whole of Europe's troubled pre-war period.

Praise for Guy Walter's previous books: * . *
Masterfully crafted and genuinely frightening * Daily Express *
'Gripping' * Daily Telegraph *
'A classic page-turner' * The Times *
'Convincing and intelligent' * Daily Mail *
'Gripping, ingenious ... compelling ... reminiscent of le Carre' * Literary Review *
'Thoroughly readable' * The Spectator *
'Extraordinary' * Sunday Times *
Praise for Berlin Games * . *
A comprehensive account of the events leading up to the games * Observer *
'Amongst several new titles commemorating the Berlin gathering, Walters' is perhaps the definitive account, not only shattering well-entrenched myths... but shedding new light on the numerous dodgy deals struck by the Nazis to ensure the games went ahead as planned.' * Good Book Guide *
'The joy of this book will be the reliving of the 1936 summer Olympics, which Walters evokes with all the cut and dash of an accomplished sports writer' * Literary Review *
'It is a tribute to Guy Walters that the real story continues to shock 70 years on' * Jewish Chronicle *
'A panoramic perspective of the most controversial sporting event of the 20th century... fascinating' * The Times *
'A fascinating, broad canvas that brings into sharp focus the deadlier political games being played at the time' * Metro *
'A superb account of the hijacking of the Olympic Games by the Nazis' * Nick Pitt, The Sunday Times *

ISBN: 9780719567742

Dimensions: 197mm x 128mm x 24mm

Weight: 277g

384 pages