1923

The Mystery of Lot 212 and a Tour de France Obsession

De: Ned Boulting

Narrado por: Ned Boulting

Bloomsbury presents 1923 written and read by Ned Boulting.

WINNER OF THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2024 CYCLING BOOK OF THE YEAR
A WATERSTONES BEST BOOK OF 2023: SPORT
NOMINATED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023

'An absorbing mix of historical sleuthing and travel writing'
The Telegraph

'[a] fascinating and often touching book… Wonderful'
The Times

The story of an obsession. When cycling commentator Ned Boulting bought a length of Pathé news film featuring a stage of the Tour de France from 1923 he set about learning everything he could about it – taking him on an intriguing journey that encompasses travelogue, history and detective story.

In the autumn of 2020 Ned Boulting (ITV head cycling commentator and Tour de France obsessive) bought a length of Pathé news film from a London auction house. All he knew was it was film from the Tour de France, a long time ago. Once restored it became clear it was a short sequence of shots from stage 4 of the 1923 Tour de France. No longer than 2.5 minutes long, it featured half a dozen sequences, including a lone rider crossing a bridge.

Ned set about learning everything he could about the sequence – studying each frame, face and building – until he had squeezed the meaning from it. It sets him off in fascinating directions, encompassing travelogue, history, mystery story – to explain, to go deeper into this moment in time, captured on his little film.

Join him as he explores the history of cycling and France just five years after WWI.©2023 Ned Boulting (P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Intersections

Ned masterfully connects sport, politics, and art from such a brief moment in history (2 minutes, 31 seconds) that it left me in awe of how all of life intersects...not just across borders but across time itself.

wonderful story and performances by Ned!

Loved the book and performance by Ned. You don’t need to be a cycling fan to love it!

Very Interesting

Pieced together nicely. I can see how this would turn obsessive. Well read. Amazing to learn more about these riders and their stories. They were the original Gravel riders.

A great meandering through the interwar years

Pleasantly pleased by 1923. Ned weaved together a great narrative about historical events that took place during stage 4 of the 1923 Tour de France. This book should please not only cyclists, but also history buffs.

A Genuinely Amazing, Emotive Book

This is one of the best books I’ve listened to in years. How it captures the frantic joy of research with the reality of COVID lockdown was amazing. Ned, you’re a treasure.