Joe Louis
Oct 2010 · Yale University Press
5.0star
2 reviews
Ebook
329
Pages
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About this ebook
A “humbling, inspiring . . . deeply emotional” biography of the boxing legend who held the heavyweight world championship for more than eleven years (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
Known as the Brown Bomber, Joe Louis defended his heavyweight title an astonishing twenty-five times. Through the 1930s, he got more column inches of newspaper coverage than President Roosevelt. At a time when the boxing ring was the only venue where black and white could meet on equal terms, Louis embodied Black America’s hope for dignity and equality. And in 1938, his politically charged defeat of German boxer Max Schmeling made Louis a national hero on the world stage.
Through meticulous research and first-hand interviews, acclaimed biographer Randy Roberts presents a complete portrait of Louis and his outsized impact on sport and country. Digging beneath the simplistic narratives of heroism and victimization, Roberts reveals an athlete who carefully managed his public image, and whose relationships with both the black and white communities—including his relationships with mobsters—were deeply complex.
“Roberts is a fine match with his subject. He supports with powerful evidence his contention that Louis’s impact was enormous and profound.” —The Boston Globe
Known as the Brown Bomber, Joe Louis defended his heavyweight title an astonishing twenty-five times. Through the 1930s, he got more column inches of newspaper coverage than President Roosevelt. At a time when the boxing ring was the only venue where black and white could meet on equal terms, Louis embodied Black America’s hope for dignity and equality. And in 1938, his politically charged defeat of German boxer Max Schmeling made Louis a national hero on the world stage.
Through meticulous research and first-hand interviews, acclaimed biographer Randy Roberts presents a complete portrait of Louis and his outsized impact on sport and country. Digging beneath the simplistic narratives of heroism and victimization, Roberts reveals an athlete who carefully managed his public image, and whose relationships with both the black and white communities—including his relationships with mobsters—were deeply complex.
“Roberts is a fine match with his subject. He supports with powerful evidence his contention that Louis’s impact was enormous and profound.” —The Boston Globe
Ratings and reviews
5.0
2 reviews
PVL
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April 19, 2017
Great book on Joe Louis from the time he begins his career until after WWII. Very good book however, very VERY poor editing on the part of the editor. For example the NCAAP, WPA, and especially FDR are ad nausea provided without capitalization for example FDR in the book "fdr," for the NCAAP it is always "naacp" same with WPA. Other than the poor editing, I would consider this a must read on Joe Louis and the era of his championship. Recommended even if the editing is subpar...
1 person found this review helpful
About the author
Randy Roberts is distinguished professor of history at Purdue University. His previous books include biographies of Jack Dempsey, Jack Johnson, and John Wayne, all of which were nominated for Pulitzer Prizes; a history of American sports since 1945; and books on Charles Lindbergh, the Mike Tyson trial, and the Vietnam War. He lives in Lafayette, Indiana.
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