Do you like adventure stories or have an interest in Bicycles? Then this is an event you should not miss. “The Lost Cyclist” by David Herlihy is an Epic tale of an American Adventurer and his mysterious disappearance.
David will be at Jane Addams Book Shop in Downtown Champaign on Thursday Oct 28th from 5-7 to show slides of this great adventurer, answer questions and talk with people, and to sign copies of the book.
Check out the trailer for the book:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4OcbymqwF8
About the Book:
In the late 1880s, Frank Lenz of Pittsburgh, a renowned high-wheel racer and long-distance tourist, dreamed of cycling around the world. He finally got his chance by recasting himself as a champion of the downsized “safety-bicycle” with inflatable tires, the forerunner of the modern road bike that was about to become wildly popular. In the spring of 1892 he quit his accounting job and gamely set out west to cover twenty thousand miles over three continents as a correspondent for Outing magazine. Two years later, after having survived countless near disasters and unimaginable hardships, he approached Europe for the final leg.
He never made it. His mysterious disappearance in eastern Turkey sparked an international outcry and compelled Outing to send William Sachtleben, another larger-than-life cyclist, on Lenz’s trail. Bringing to light a wealth of information, Herlihy’s gripping narrative captures the soaring joys and constant dangers accompanying the bicycle adventurer in the days before paved roads and automobiles. This untold story culminates with Sachtleben’s heroic effort to bring Lenz’s accused murderers to justice, even as troubled Turkey teetered on the edge of collapse.
Retail: $26.00
About the Author:
DAVID V. HERLIHY is the author of Bicycle: The History, winner of the 2004 Award for Excellence in the History of Science. A leading authority in his field, he has been interviewed by numerous television, radio, and newspaper personalities in the United States and abroad, and his work has appeared in a wide variety of general-interest and specialty magazines.
Reviews:
New York Times Review:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/books/review/Sullivan-t.html
Amazon – It was listed as one of the Best Books in June 2010
“The Lost Cyclist is a riveting tale of tragedy, pride, and naivete that is both brilliantly told and meticulously researched. Opinions may differ as to whether Lenz was unaware or unconcerned by the inherent dangers he faced, but the story of his fateful journey belongs on the varied shelves of cycling enthusiasts, mystery fans, and nonfiction devotees alike”
Booklist
“This well-researched and stylishly written book puts Lenz back in the public eye as well as offering readers a look at the very early days of modern cycling”
“Fascinating . . . Herlihy combines an admirable talent for sleuthing with the narrative skills of a first-rate storyteller . . . This should appeal to most lovers of history, as well as to bicycling enthusiasts. Strongly recommended.” —Library Journal
Reviews from individuals:
“highly entertaining, with an extraordinary cast of characters…The author has done copious research and “the Lost Cyclist” is not only a worthy addition to any cyclist’s bookshelf, but is in itself revealing social history of a world in transition.”
“the entire book is a fantastic read…fantastic adventures of cyclists in the late 1890s”
“The Lost Cyclist is a meticulously researched, fast-paced, supremely readable book that had me staying up later than I’d intended several nights in a row just so I could keep reading”
“The author has done a great job of rescuing this sad & obscure footnote from history…The mystery of Lenz’s disappearance and the heroic effort by Will Sachtleban to find him might make for a good movie”
Questions can be sent to [email protected]
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