The First Ever English Olimpick Games Paperback / softback
by Celia Haddon
Paperback / softback
Description
Quirky and funny, while also being a serious account, this entertaining little paperback takes a historical event, THE FIRST EVER OLIMPICK GAMES, and looks at what it reveals about life in England in the seventeenth century: the history, monarchy, religion and politics.
In a delightful manner, Celia Haddon tells the story of an incongruous mix: a Cotswold field and the Olympic Games and so brings history to life in a direct, readable and enjoyable way. The founder of the games, Robert Dover, was a lawyer and 'the Great Inventor and Champion of English Olimpicks'.
He had the support of James l who had himself written about suitable, manly sport, partly in answer to the Puritans who thought all games led to sin and sex.
From the start Dover's games were a political, as well as a sporting, statement. The Civil War put an end to the games. They were revived by Charles ll and continued into the 19th century when a Victorian Puritan vicar put an end to them on the grounds of licentious behaviour.
Today they are still held - but as a shadow of their former glory.
Information
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Item not Available
- Format:Paperback / softback
- Pages:192 pages
- Publisher:Hodder & Stoughton
- Publication Date:15/08/2005
- Category:
- ISBN:9780340862834
Information
-
Item not Available
- Format:Paperback / softback
- Pages:192 pages
- Publisher:Hodder & Stoughton
- Publication Date:15/08/2005
- Category:
- ISBN:9780340862834
