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The Merckx Biographies

Comments

  • #2
    crumliniano
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 254 ✭✭crumliniano


    Currently reading the Fotheringham one. Just over half way though and really enjoying it. Unless it takes a serious nosedive as his career progresses I'd recommend it.


  • #3
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,083 ✭✭✭furiousox


    +1

    CPL 593H



  • #4
    TheFredJ
    Closed Accounts Posts: 72 ✭✭TheFredJ


    crumliniano wrote: »
    Currently reading the Fotheringham one. Just over half way though and really enjoying it. Unless it takes a serious nosedive as his career progresses I'd recommend it.

    I wouldn't call it a nosedive ... more a défaillance when it comes to tackling a couple of tricky hills in the plot.

    FYI Friebe talking bout his book: http://cyclismas.com/2012/04/interview-daniel-friebe-author-of-eddy-merckx-the-cannibal/


  • #5
    crumliniano
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 254 ✭✭crumliniano


    On a slightly related topic ... Great recent interview with a Merckx contemporary here.

    ITALIAN CYCLING JOURNAL: A Talk with Felice Gimondi, "Il Campionissimo"


  • #6
    TheFredJ
    Closed Accounts Posts: 72 ✭✭TheFredJ


    William Fotheringham talks about his Merckx biography: http://cyclismas.com/2012/05/interview-with-william-fotheringham-author-of-half-man-half-bike/


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  • #7
    elduggo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 546 ✭✭✭elduggo


    read the Fotheringham one. A good read. Can't comment on the other one as I haven't read it but how different can different books about the same person/career be?

    Fotheringham's comes across as somewhat distant from Merckx himself in the writing (he doesn't ever mention having talked to him directly), but rather than being something that might give you the impression that hes looking on the subject matter from too great a distance, it comes across quite objective. Thats what I liked best about it.

    I've read a lot of cycling biogs and its mostly the human story behind the athlete that I find most interesting. There isn't much on the human story here, but it isn't really needed. Merckx is interesting enough without needing to go probing too deeply into his personal life.


  • #8
    TheFredJ
    Closed Accounts Posts: 72 ✭✭TheFredJ


    elduggo wrote: »
    read the Fotheringham one. A good read. Can't comment on the other one as I haven't read it but how different can different books about the same person/career be?

    Very different.
    Fotheringham's comes across as somewhat distant from Merckx himself in the writing (he doesn't ever mention having talked to him directly), but rather than being something that might give you the impression that hes looking on the subject matter from too great a distance, it comes across quite objective. Thats what I liked best about it.

    Actually he mentions having interviewed him - twice - several times. Quite prominently. What he neglects to mention is Mercx's refusal to co-operate with the book.
    I've read a lot of cycling biogs and its mostly the human story behind the athlete that I find most interesting. There isn't much on the human story here, but it isn't really needed. Merckx is interesting enough without needing to go probing too deeply into his personal life.

    Or is it that the things one might find were one to probe beyond where Fotherngham draws the line might knock Merckx from his pedestal and we can't have that, can we?


  • #9
    elduggo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 546 ✭✭✭elduggo


    TheFredJ wrote: »
    Or is it that the things one might find were one to probe beyond where Fotherngham draws the line might knock Merckx from his pedestal and we can't have that, can we?

    he did go a little easy on him alright. But, did he find anything? You can't go printing stuff unless it can be fully backed up. Not in English anyway.

    Actually he mentions having interviewed him - twice - several times.

    Not specifically for the book though. Unless I missed something.


  • #10
    TheFredJ
    Closed Accounts Posts: 72 ✭✭TheFredJ


    elduggo wrote: »
    he did go a little easy on him alright. But, did he find anything? You can't go printing stuff unless it can be fully backed up. Not in English anyway.

    Having read the book - and based solely on what you read in the book - how many positives did Merckx trip?
    Not specifically for the book though. Unless I missed something.

    Very specifically in the book. So clearly you missed something. Several times. Which probably makes the previous question a waste of time.


  • #11
    furiousox
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,083 ✭✭✭furiousox


    3587873-beauty_8_460_322.jpg?h=20a0f9e4e073065abd7797d353cfee98

    CPL 593H



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  • #12
    elduggo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 546 ✭✭✭elduggo


    TheFredJ wrote: »
    Having read the book - and based solely on what you read in the book - how many positives did Merckx trip?



    Very specifically in the book. So clearly you missed something. Several times. Which probably makes the previous question a waste of time.

    ha ha, quality debate. Good man


  • #13
    TheFredJ
    Closed Accounts Posts: 72 ✭✭TheFredJ


    elduggo wrote: »
    ha ha, quality debate. Good man

    So that's a don't know then.

    The answer is two. Of three.

    The point? You are too generous offering the shield of UK libel law. Some journalists are only too willing to sell their silence for future access and don't need to be cowed by lawyers. They're already cowed by hero worship.


  • #14
    witty username
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 159 ✭✭witty username


    Read Will F's one last week (after I read your review fmk, which was great btw) and loved it. Spoiled the positive vibes afterwards though by reading John Foot's Pedalare Pedalare, which was a bit naff in comparison. Might get Dan F's one once I've forgotten all the Merckx info (which should be in around 2 weeks).


  • #15
    TheFredJ
    Closed Accounts Posts: 72 ✭✭TheFredJ


    witty username wrote: »
    Read Will F's one last week (after I read your review fmk, which was great btw) and loved it. Spoiled the positive vibes afterwards though by reading John Foot's Pedalare Pedalare, which was a bit naff in comparison. Might get Dan F's one once I've forgotten all the Merckx info (which should be in around 2 weeks).


    Pedalare overall is v weak but it has a few gd bits. Boil it down a bit + it could have been a gd bk. Reviewed it last yr http://www.podiumcafe.com/2011/5/24/2187256/PedalarePedalare + interviewed Foot http://www.podiumcafe.com/2011/5/25/2177966/JohnFoot INRNG got round it to today http://inrng.com/2012/05/book-review-pedalare-pedalare/

    You really should rd the Friebe Merckx. Some really excellent interviewees in it and they're well used.


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