‘An enthralling account’ Independent
‘A fascinating book… researched with an awesome thoroughness’ Daily Telegraph
‘Hampton’s excellent book should be compulsory reading for everyone involved in the 2012 London Olympics’ Daily Mail Critic’s Choice
The budget for the 2012 Olympic village alone is already a billion pounds short. The likelihood of corporate sponsorship recedes with every day of the credit crunch. How on earth are we going to match the opening and closing ceremonies of Beijing, let along top them? Fortunately, London has been through just such hard times before in the run-up to an Olympics, and in 1948 it showed just how to run a fantastic Games on a tiny budget – indeed, make them all the better for it.
Janie Hampton’s book about the last time the Olympics came to London is a tale of female competitors sewing their own kit, teams ferried to the Games on red London buses and billeted in Spartan hostels or even army camps, and the main stadium being hastily cleared of greyhound racing to allow the athletics to take place. The total budget was £760,000, great athletes like Emil Zatopek and Fanny Blankers-Koen thrilled the crowds, and at the end a profit was turned! This is a book that becomes more relevant and ironically entertaining every day nearer to 2012.
Janie Hampton is also the author of a bestselling biography of Joyce Grenfell. She lives in Oxford
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Review
‘An enthralling account’
(Independent )‘A fascinating book… researched with an awesome thoroughness’
(Daily Telegraph )‘Hampton’s excellent book should be compulsory reading for everyone involved in the 2012 London Olympics’ Critic's Choice
(Daily Mail )Review
'The tale of the Games is told here with spirit and touching humour.'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Crossy1
Format:Paperback
What an excellent read.To discover how England overcame the hardship of rebuilding a war torn country and the financial problems we were going through,yet still stage a major sporting event,is incredible.I fully recommend everyone who has an interest in sport,especially the 2012 Olympics,to read this book.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By S. Cryer
Format:Paperback
Absolutely superb telling of the story of the 1948 Games, perfectly balancing historical records of events and decisions with first-hand accounts of those who experienced them. There are plenty of amusing and jaw-dropping moments at the determination and naivety of those involved, from track cycling in the dark to building a boxing ring on top of the swimming pool, to the vast amount of wine the French team brought over with them!
Excellently researched and written, this is one of the most enjoyable non-fiction books I've picked up.
Excellently researched and written, this is one of the most enjoyable non-fiction books I've picked up.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By len michell
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
In this year of the London Olympics the book is a well written and well researched account of the 1948 games in London. Interesting to compare much more basic facilities in war-torn Britain with today's far larger and grander occasion - but in both cases the country fared well in the preparation, and hopefully this year's home medal tally will far exceed those in 1948. A very good read indeed.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Austerity games
Fascinating book which I had read so bought this as a Christmas present for a friend. He also really enjoyed it
Published 4 months ago by Onny
5.0 out of 5 stars
A tonic for the (returned) troops
Cards on the table: I was a 2012 sceptic, apart from pleasure at the achievements of Team GB and admiration of the Paralympians. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Bob Sherunkle
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Austerity Olympics When the games came to London in 1948
The book is a great price and is a fascinating insight into an Olympic games which was amazing compared to todays mammoth productions and showed the true strenght of the human... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. B. A. Clutterbuck
5.0 out of 5 stars
How different to 2012
The London 2012 Olympics meant that it was inevitable that authors would want to write about the previous London Olympics, and this is certainly the best of what is out there. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Sport Nut
5.0 out of 5 stars
1948 revisited
arrived well packaged very promptly so i could read it during the current Olympics. Good read evocative of the times, easy reading so rattled through it but well researched. Read more
Published 9 months ago by bargain buster
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful read!
I bought this book having seen it advertised and because Great Britain hosted the 2012 Olympics.This is a great book, very easy to read and giving one an absolutely fascinating... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Kernowgirl
4.0 out of 5 stars
1948 Olympics
This is a fascinating insite into the 1948 Olympics made more relevant by the memories of the 2012 Olympics. Well wotth a read.
Published 9 months ago by Golfer Boy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Torch bearer
Many might bemoan the rampant commercialism of sport, particularly the brand led Olympics, but don't be fooled into thinking this onslaught of sponsorship is relatively new. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Quiverbow
5.0 out of 5 stars
how far we have come since 1948 - and the joy of sport remains
This is a fascinating account of the Olympic games held in London in 1948. Each of the events is covered, focusing on the personal stories of the competitors. Read more
Published 9 months ago by markr
4.0 out of 5 stars
When the Olympics really were held during a time of austerity
Hampton tells the story of the last time the Olympics were held in London - in 1948, when austerity was somewhat more apparent than it is today. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Les Fearns
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