This book is one of the finest sporting biographies you will ever read. Not only is the text illuminated with stirring reportage of the record-breaking races in which George took part, but it also provides the reader with as good a picture of mid- to late-Victorian England and the growth of sport as any book has ever done. Gripping from start to finish, it is meticulously researched and vividly encapsulates what sporting biography is all about. The story of George's early life in the idyllic Wiltshire countryside is beautifully told with plenty of social and political background, a feature which underpins the narrative throughout. This is a wonderful book, full of epic encounters, eccentric characters and unforgettable stories.