The Flying Scotsman: The Eric Liddell Story Book Review
Read a book review of The Flying Scotsman: The Eric Liddell Story.
By Sally Magnusson
The History Press, 2012
192 pp, paperback
ISBN: 978-0-7524-4352-2
The Flying Scotsman: The Eric Liddell Story
As the world’s fastest sprinter, Scotland’s Eric Liddel was favored to win track and field’s most celebrated event, the 100-meter dash, at the 1924 Paris Olympics. Although winning the 100 would not set him up financially for life, as it would today, a win would have assured a very bright future.
There was one problem, however. The preliminary heats for the 100 were to be held on a Sunday, and Liddel considered Sundays to be The Lord’s Day. Much to the dismay and criticism of some of his countrymen, he decided not to run, thereby forfeiting likely glory. The British press called him a traitor. He also passed on two relay races, which had their heats on a Sunday.
Instead, he ran in the 200, where he finished third, and the 400, an event in which he had very little experience. Running in the outside (worst) lane, he broke the world’s 400-meter record in a stunning gold-medal performance.
Much of this is known because of the 1981 Academy Award-winning film, “Chariots of Fire.” It is the lesser-known parts of Liddel’s life that make up the gist of this book.
Barely a quarter of the way through the book, Liddel has won his medal and the book moves on to its main focus, what he did after his 1925 return to China, the place of his 1902 birth to missionary parents. He worked there as a teacher and missionary, until he, along with hundreds of others, was put in an internment camp by the Japanese during World War ll. Unable to get treatment for a brain tumor, he died there in 1945, just a few months before the war’s conclusion.
The book is filled with interesting historical details of the times from before his Olympic glory days in the 1920s through his dying days. The reader will come away with a better understanding of history, and not just sports history.
Interestingly, since Liddel was born in China, the Chinese consider him to be the country’s first Olympic gold medalist. For all that he did for the Chinese people, he is fondly remembered there. In 1991, a stone memorial to Liddel was built in Weifang, at the site of the internment camp.
Of course, the Chinese would not let any mention of his Christian beliefs be on the monument, but on the back is written a well-known Bible verse, “They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary.”
The book offers interesting speculation as to whether Liddel could be a star in modern times. His life was never focused exclusively on his track career. He was a student and was very active in various Christian endeavors. He wasn’t fully focused on becoming the world’s fastest human.
At three or four points in the book, the author describes details that the movie knowingly and purposely got wrong in their attempt to “improve” the story. The movie was British, showing that it is not only the American media that play fast and loose with facts if they think a few more bucks can be made.
Not only did Liddel lose his life because of his decision to return to China, but he also lost much more, too. For one thing, he never did get to see his third daughter, Maureen, because his pregnant wife and first two daughters left China in early 1941 when things started to get too dangerous.
Many pages are dedicated to the hope that Liddel gave those interred. His life went from working with the Chinese to encouraging the imprisoned foreigners. Many firsthand tributes are recorded in the book.
The only negative of the book is the exceptionally small type size used in this edition. If you have good eyes and read in a well-lit place, you might be OK.
All in all, this is a very worthwhile book.
Marshall Hughes
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