1923 cover art

1923

The Mystery of Lot 212 and a Tour de France Obsession

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1923

By: Ned Boulting
Narrated by: Ned Boulting
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About this listen

 Bloomsbury presents 1923 written and read by Ned Boulting.

WINNER OF THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2024 CYCLING BOOK OF THE YEAR
A WATERSTONES BEST BOOK OF 2023: SPORT
NOMINATED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023

'An absorbing mix of historical sleuthing and travel writing'
The Telegraph

'[a] fascinating and often touching book… Wonderful'
The Times

The story of an obsession. When cycling commentator Ned Boulting bought a length of Pathé news film featuring a stage of the Tour de France from 1923 he set about learning everything he could about it – taking him on an intriguing journey that encompasses travelogue, history and detective story.

In the autumn of 2020 Ned Boulting (ITV head cycling commentator and Tour de France obsessive) bought a length of Pathé news film from a London auction house. All he knew was it was film from the Tour de France, a long time ago. Once restored it became clear it was a short sequence of shots from stage 4 of the 1923 Tour de France. No longer than 2.5 minutes long, it featured half a dozen sequences, including a lone rider crossing a bridge.

Ned set about learning everything he could about the sequence – studying each frame, face and building – until he had squeezed the meaning from it. It sets him off in fascinating directions, encompassing travelogue, history, mystery story – to explain, to go deeper into this moment in time, captured on his little film.

Join him as he explores the history of cycling and France just five years after WWI.©2023 Ned Boulting (P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Cycling Sports History Sports Writing Outdoor France

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All stars
Most relevant  
if u like bikes the TDF, France,history, or just the sound of Neds voice buy it!!! listen to this book on my long winter rides.....

A lovely trip down a cycling rabbit hole

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I loved how Ned told the story of a tiny piece of film gripping his waking thoughts and extrapolating it out to tell the macro story of Europe during its strangest decade. Great read and wonderful story.

Such a delightful journey through the most niche of obsessions!

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Just brilliant, tangentialy investigating and seeking out the wonderful richness of Europe in 1923.

Great.

Wonderful snapshot of place, culture and society of the interwar tdf

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Mon Dieu, what a book... Mensieur Boulting has done something extraordinary! This is how writing of a cycling book should look like, full of passion. Absolute gem of a listen, filled with heroes, superheroes.
I love this book. It is a masterpiece!

Amazing book!

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Thank you for weaving history time and cycling all together in this fantastic book.
A delight to read as well as to listen.

history time and cycling woven together

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This is a brilliant book about cycling. And a book not about cycling. About life, history, crime, confusion, war, travel, and poetry. It’s a brilliant listen and is, whatever the audio equivalent of, a page turner. My only grip is the manner in which the audio book is presented. Three long sessions, and not numbered chapters. At times, it was difficult to discern whether a new chapter had begun or not. Trying to find a neat place to pause was rather cumbersome. But, it is a minor complaint.

Excellent encapsulation of lost snippet in time.

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By looking into the granular detail of the short piece of film bought at auction so many lives and stories are discovered. A fascinating insight into a period of cycling and history I knew little about.

From a short clip of film so many interesting stories

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Thought I was buying a story of a historic Tour de France race but was given so so much more. Wonderful, Bravo Ned. Fabulous from star to finish-kudos all the way :)

Wow - that was unexpected

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I’m a cycling fan but I’d have no hesitation in recommending this to people who aren’t really interested in professional racing. Cycling so often takes us on journeys and this journey is masterfully told, filled with details that make me want to go away and learn more.

Captivating

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An extraordinary tale that weaves through the history of cycling and the 20th Century. Beautifully written and read, it is a truly moving story.

Simply beautiful

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