I was reading this during the first week of the London 2012 torch relay, so made a good accompaniment to the build up to the 2012 games. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Olympics, particularly in the run-up to are immediately after this year's Olympiad. Not only is this a great account post-war Britain, where rationing was still in place, but it also provides an insight into how the games and sport has changed, but equally how other aspects remain very similar.

The really interesting parts were the descriptions of the preparations for the games and some of the lengths which members of the British team had to go to in order to compete. Some of the sections on the events themselves were a little lengthy and in parts heavy and a little over reliant on quotes. It would have nice to have heard the author's voice a little more often. Nevertheless a fascinating account of how the Games were revived after at the end of a bleak decade for Britain and the world. ( )