The Peerless Four

The true story of the first women to compete in Olympic track and field comes to life in this ';rich and resonant' historical sports novel (Publishers Weekly). ';A fascinating exploration of a little-known chapter in sports history. With gorgeous, restrained prose and a crystalline eye for detail, Victoria Patterson takes us on a thrilling journey of long odds and unbreakable spirit.' Maria Semple, author ofWhere'd You Go, Bernadette The 1928 Amsterdam Olympics were the first games in which women were allowed to compete in track and field (and on a trial basis, at that). Nicknamed ';the Peerless Four,' the Canadian track team included some of the strongest and most diversely talented women on the scene. These women and their chaperone embark on their journey with the same golden goals as every other Olympian, male or female. But as tensions begin to rise, each discovers new fears and new priorities, all while the weight of women's future in the Olympics rests on their performance. The Peerless Fouris more than a sports novel. It's a meditation on sacrifice, loyalty, commitment, perseverance, and the courage to live a true underdog tale. ';Patterson mates genressports and period fictionand the result is surprisingly rich and resonant.... the author not only transcends categories but creates something poignant and memorable.' Publishers Weekly ';Stirring historical fiction and a great choice for book clubs.' Booklist ';The grittiest, booziest, toughest sports novel I've read in recent years... Patterson compels and entertains with prose perfectly fitted to this lean, surprising, unsentimental tale of female Olympiads in the late 1920s.' Jonathan Evison, author ofThe Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving