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The Beast, the Emperor and the Milkman

A Bone-shaking Tour through Cycling’s Flemish Heartlands

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The Beast, the Emperor and the Milkman

By: Harry Pearson
Narrated by: Harry Pearson
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Bloomsbury presents The Beast, the Emperor and the Milkman written and read by Harry Pearson.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2020 – CYCLING BOOK OF THE YEAR

LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019

'A joy.' – Ned Boulting

Every nation shapes sport to test the character traits it most admires.

In The Beast, the Emperor and the Milkman, committed Belgophile and road cycling obsessive Harry Pearson takes you on a journey across Flanders, through the lumpy horizontal rain, up the elbow juddering cobbled inclines, past the fans dressed as chickens and the shop window displays of constipation medicines, as he follows races big, small and even smaller through one glorious, muddy spring.

Ranging over 500 years of Flemish and European history, across windswept polders, along back roads and through an awful lot of beer cafes, Pearson examines the characters, the myths and rivalries that make Flanders a place where cycling is a religion and the riders its lycra-clad priests.©2019 Harry Pearson (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Cycling Europe Sports History Travel Writing & Commentary Western Europe Sports
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Critic reviews

An enormously entertaining cycling journal
Absolutely splendid ... full of wonderful things. (Rhod Sharp)
Harry Pearson’s class and wit were the reason I wanted to start writing in the first place. To read his words on cycling and Flanders, two of the best things in the world, is a joy. (Ned Boulting)
Entertaining (Richard Williams)
The ever amiable Harry Pearson invites us to accompany him on a tour of Flanders ... [the cyclists' stories] illuminate the landscape and history of this little understood pocket of Europe.
A witty, engaging guide to the spring bike races in Flanders ... [Pearson] covers a lot of quirky historical ground in his "bone-shaking tour".
All stars
Most relevant
This is definitely one of those books I will listen to again and again, just to justify the cracking open of another Belgian beer! The narration was excellent and draws you in with its relaxing tone. It was a cultural listen as well as a sporting one and I came away with a much better knowledge of the Belgian people as well as their cycling heroes (and villains!) The only downside is it made me really miss this years cancelled classic season. Here's to 2021. Stay safe everyone..

A must listen for a fan of the classics.

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A thoroughly enjoyable detour through the lesser known (to me) races of the European cycling season. Dry wit combined with a deep love for the subject shine through. And really, who amongst us knew just how many Belgian cyclists went on to work in the erotic film industry? Highly recommended.

A joyous pedal through Belgian cycling

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The dry humour of the author/narrator was certainly entertaining.
You really need to be a fan of the one day classic cycle races to get the most from this, or at least have a keen interest in learning about the history of these races and riders, as I have.
The author paints a great picture of his time touring through obscure Belgian towns, and also of some of the great Flemish characters of cycling's past.

Good of you like the one day classics

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I have always enjoyed Harry Pearson's books in print. This was good but his delivery I found a little monotonous at times. Still I did enjoy it overall.

HP IN BELGIUM

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Brilliantly read by the author. Definitely one to listen to even if you have (like me) already read the book. Chapeau Harry !

Flanders cyclists hardmen and fun

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