Before Federer versus Nadal; before Borg versus McEnroe; the greatest tennis match ever played pitted the dominant Don Budge against the seductively handsome Baron Gottfried von Cramm. This deciding 1937 Davis Cup match; played on the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon; was a battle of titans: the world's number one tennis player against the number two; America against Germany; democracy against fascism. For five superhuman sets; the duo’s brilliant shotmaking kept the Centre Court crowd–and the world–spellbound.But the match’s significance extended well beyond the immaculate grass courts of Wimbledon. Against the backdrop of the Great Depression and the brink of World War II; one man played for the pride of his country while the other played for his life. Budge; the humble hard-working American who would soon become the first man to win all four Grand Slam titles in the same year; vied to keep the Davis Cup out of the hands of the Nazi regime. On the other side of the net; the immensely popular and elegant von Cramm fought Budge point for point knowing that a loss might precipitate his descent into the living hell being constructed behind barbed wire back home.Born into an aristocratic family; von Cramm was admired for his devastating good looks as well as his unparalleled sportsmanship. But he harbored a dark secret; one that put him under increasing Gestapo surveillance. And his situation was made even more perilous by his refusal to join the Nazi Party or defend Hitler. Desperately relying on his athletic achievements and the global spotlight to keep him out of the Gestapo’s clutches; his strategy was to keep traveling and keep winning. A Davis Cup victory would make him the toast of Germany. A loss might be catastrophic. Watching the mesmerizingly intense match from the stands was von Cramm’s mentor and all-time tennis superstar Bill Tilden–a consummate showman whose double life would run in ironic counterpoint to that of his German pupil.Set at a time when sports and politics were inextricably linked; A Terrible Splendor gives readers a courtside seat on that fateful day; moving gracefully between the tennis match for the ages and the dramatic events leading Germany; Britain; and America into global war. A book like no other in its weaving of social significance and athletic spectacle; this soul-stirring account is ultimately a tribute to the strength of the human spirit.From the Hardcover edition.
#637954 in Books Da Capo Press 2009-04-14 2009-04-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .75 x 6.00l; .75 #File Name: 030681790X304 pagesGreat product!
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. and it sounded like a good book so I bought itBy Conrad T. HeslinI heard about this book from a friend; and it sounded like a good book so I bought it. I am not much of a reader in that it takes me a while to read a book. In fact I started reading a book on the Korean War about a year and a half ago and I'm only about half way through it. I started reading this book and finished it in one day. Couldn't put it down once I started reading it. It is the true story of a WWII submarine and it's last mission. I would highly recommend this book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Escape from the Deep SeaBy David. CornerA Really interesting good book to read about the Crew of a Submarine in world war 2. Also what happened to the Survivors from it9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. ProvocativeBy otto0713A vivid and accurate re-telling of Captain Richard O'Kane's WW II legacy that brings the reader into an ever increasing awareness of the brutalities of both the Submariners life in combat and the after capture existence as a POW by the Japanese.This one should be read by anyone interested in Submarine warfare and tactics. That period in our heritage is one of intense and unimaginable suffering. War is certainly an ugly part of the twentieth century and doesn't seem to be going away. Our awareness of this cannot be overstated. For that it rates my five stars.
