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Weaving the stories of Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon to create his narrative, Mark Frost has crafted a uniquely involving, intimate epic; equal parts sports biography, sweeping social history, and emotional human drama.
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Publisher Comments
Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon came from
different worlds and different generation, but their passion for golf
set them on parallel paths that would collide in the greatest match
their sport had ever known.
Through hard work, courage, and determination, Vardon had escaped a
hopeless life of poverty in Britain to achieve universal recognition as
the greatest champion in the game's long and storied history. Ouimet, a
virtual unknown from Massachusetts, was only three years removed from
his youthful career as a lowly caddie. He worshiped Vardon, a man twice
his age, innovator of the modern grip and swing, daring only to dream of
following in his hero's footsteps.
These two unlikely opponents finally came together in their legendary
battle at the 1913 U.S. Open. The world's reaction to its remarkable
drama and heart-stopping climax gave rise to the sport of golf as we
know it today. |
- Now a major motion picture starring
Shia LaBeouf. Directed by Bill Paxton.
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Publisher Comments:
Two of the three corners of The Great Triumverate
prepare to go head to head in the 1897 British Open. Longtime rivals Harry
Vardon and John Henry Taylor put their friendship aside when they step onto the
course and prepare to compete for possession of the Claret Jug, the oldest
trophy in organized sport.
The Greatest Game Ever Played represents everything that is right about
sports in general and sportsmen in particular: Ouimet and Vardon were gentlemen,
champions, teachers, leaders, and each in their own quiet way, heroes.
"Francis's victory was the greatest underdog story in the history of American
sports," says author Mark Frost. "Here was this amateur [Ouimet] playing against
his idol, Vardon...who won the British Open five times...[Ouimet] forced a
playoff with Vardon and the British Open winner Ted Ray. These two seasoned
champions teed off against him [Ouimet] the next morning, and the 19 year-old
kid who'd never won anything in his life beat them straight up."
Weaving together the stories of Vardon and Ouimet, along with those of more than
a dozen other seminal figures in the game of golf, The Greatest Game Ever
Played creates a uniquely involving, intimate epic with equal parts sports
biography, sweeping social history, and emotional human drama.
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Interior Images:
 Francis
Ouimet at the 1913 U.S. Open at The Country Club.
Ouimet, to the right of center next to his caddy, Eddie Lowery,
walks with spectators during the 1913 US Open.
From the E. E. Bond Collection of the Boston Public Library.
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Product Reviews:
"One
of the best golf books ever written."
Travel & Leisure Golf
Magazine
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| "Francis Ouimet's
showdown with Harry Vardon was a watershed moment that changed
the face of golf. At last this remarkable story has been given
the epic treatment it so richly deserves."
Butch Harmon
Tiger Woods' Coach |
| "The most compelling
sports book since Laura Hillenbrand's best-selling Seabiscuit"
Booklist |
| "Masterful
storytelling . . . a must-read."
Boston Globe |
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About the Author:
 Mark
Frost is the author of the award-winning The Greatest Game
Ever Played and the bestselling The List of 7, The 6
Messiahs, and Before I Wake. He received a Writers Guild
Award and an Emmy nomination for his work as executive story
editor on the acclaimed television series Hill Street Blues,
and was the co-creator and executive producer of the ABC
television series Twin Peaks.
An avid golfer, he lives in Los Angeles and upstate New York. |
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Product Details:
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ISBN: |
0786869208 |
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Publisher: |
Hyperion |
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Publication Date: |
November 6, 2002 |
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Binding: |
Paperback |
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Language: |
English |
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Illustrations: |
Yes |
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Pages: |
496 |
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Dimensions: |
9.5 x 6.4 x 1.6 inches |
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