The Beast, the Emperor and the Milkman cover art

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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About this listen

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 Pty Ltd Cycling Europe Sports History Travel Writing & Commentary Western Europe Sports

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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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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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I really loved this, so informative, it makes me want to hit my bike and hop on the ferry over to Belgium and cycle around and take the place in.

Fantastic Book

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I listen to this again and again. The text is brilliant, and only enhanced by Harry Pearson's deadpan delivery. The asides regarding cycling history (esp re Baron Merckx) slip seamlessly into the discussions of the individual races. Beautifully written, and beautifully read.

Unsurpassably moving and authentic

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Okay I will admit that Flemish cycling might be a bit of a niche topic but I loved it. The style of storytelling was great and it really brought me along for the journey, teaching me a lot about the cycling culture of flanders whilst listening and riding my bike. I thought it was read very well and it was pretty fun in places - reminded me a bit of Ned Boulting (slightly better actually). Definitely recommend giving it a go!

Excellent book on a niche topic

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if you are into the old footage of unknown bike races, with understated commentary, then this is perfect.
The writer narrates his own wonderfully dull experiences of traveling round Belgium to spectate the classics, but also spectating on life and people. His musings are delivered in a perfect northern monotone, that just sets the ambience for me. It's like watching the 1974 world cup with that crackly commentary sent via a telephone line or something worse.
If you are into cycling, and its history, this is a lovely way to pass an afternoon. Harry Pearson is just great; i will look out his other work

love it

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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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As a serious sporting cyclist who loves the spring classics I really enjoyed this.

The research is detailed and delves into some of the most obscure parts of Flemish cycling - so many cycling books tend to be rehashes of the same stories, people and anecdotes but this really turns over people, facts and stories that are relatively unknown.

It's more rambling and wayward than any cycling race route. Chapters start in one place and divert by decades into long-forgotten riders and their triumphs or failures before suddenly crossing back into the present. The author reads the book and his delivery is not always the best but it certainly adds passion and authenticity.

If you love the classics and you admire the Flandrian spirit this book will definitely appeal.

Great, but one for the aficionados

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As a big fan of cycling, Belgium, and their races I loved this book.
So much interesting & entertaining information and stories. All told in a very dead pan manner (by the author), which suited it perfectly.
My only regret was that it didn’t go on longer.
I will definitely listen to this again.

A very entertaining listen.

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A really good book, jumping easily from past to present to bring the races, and their history alive, but I suspect this would have been a better read than a listen. There was an overuse of simile, to the point of detracting from the narrative, and I struggled at times with Harrys style of delivery (must be the Yorkshire man in him). But his passion for the sport is obvious and comes through perfectly.

Enjoyable and informative read for the niche cyclist

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