Items related to The Race Against the Stasi: The Incredible Story of...

The Race Against the Stasi: The Incredible Story of Dieter Wiedemann, the Iron Curtain and the Greatest Cycling Race on Earth - Softcover

 
9781781315361: The Race Against the Stasi: The Incredible Story of Dieter Wiedemann, the Iron Curtain and the Greatest Cycling Race on Earth
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 

Cycling Book of the Year 2015 - Cross British Sports Book Award

Unbeknownst to the authorities, however, he had fallen in love with Sylvia Hermann, a girl from the other side of the wall. Socialist doctrine had it that the two of them were 'class enemies', and as a famous athlete Dieter's every move was pored over by the Stasi. Only he abhorred their ideology, and in Sylvia saw his only chance of freedom. Now, playing a deadly game of cat and mouse, he plotted his escape.

In 1964 he was delegated, once and once only, to West Germany. Here he was to ride a qualification race for the Tokyo Olympics, but instead committed the most treacherous of all the crimes against socialism. Dieter Wiedemann, sporting icon and Soviet pawn, defected to the other side.

Whilst Wiedemann fulfilled his lifetime ambition of racing in the Tour de France, his defection caused a huge scandal. The Stasi sought to 'repatriate' him, with horrific consequences both for him and the family he left behind. Fifty years on, and twenty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Dieter Wiedemann decided it was time to tell his story. Through his testimony and that of others involved, and well as through the Stasi file - an organization that has stalked him for half a century - Herbie Sykes uncovers an astonishing tale. It is one of love and betrayal, of the madness at the heart of the cold war, and of the greatest bike race in history.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:
Herbie Sykes is a cycling journalist, historian and author of The Eagle of Canavese, about Franco Balmamion, Maglia Rosa: Triumph and Tragedy at the Giro d'Italia, and Coppi: Inside the Legend of Campionissimo. Sykes lives in Turin, and writes for a number of cycling publications.
Review:

"gripping book was as unputdownable as the best espionage novels."



'so much more than a regular biography... [a] unique account of life behind the Iron Curtain when the Berlin Wall was up and the Cold War was at its chilliest'



'incredibly impressiveâ?¬Â¿ a monumental work of great credit to its author and principal subjects, in equal parts social and sporting history and may well be one of the finest books i have ever had the pleasure of reading.’



'incredibly impressiveâ?¿ a monumental work of great credit to its author and principal subjects, in equal parts social and sporting history and may well be one of the finest books i have ever had the pleasure of reading.â??

â??a great book that mixes a variety of source materials to tell the story of a cyclistâ?¿ a story that deserves to be toldâ??

'more than the story of a cyclist, more than a story about cycling... it's the story of a man forgotten by history but who deserves to be remembered, not just for the life he lived, but for the way the story of that life has been told.'

'A hugely rewarding read and a tour de force of excellent journalism'

'a window into a world that no longer exists but which conditioned the lives of millions of peopleâ?¿ most definitely a book worth reading'

"wonderful book"

â??The story of Dieter Wiedemann is an intriguing tale, encompassing a potent combination of politics, sport, love and betrayal. Herbie Sykes impressively balances the political and the personal, making The Race Against the Stasi an enjoyable, compelling and highly recommended read.â?

"moving and enjoyable"

"A fascinating tale"

"gripping book was as unputdownable as the best espionage novels."

'so much more than a regular biography... [a] unique account of life behind the Iron Curtain when the Berlin Wall was up and the Cold War was at its chilliest'

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • PublisherAurum Press
  • Publication date2016
  • ISBN 10 1781315361
  • ISBN 13 9781781315361
  • BindingPaperback
  • Number of pages416
  • Rating

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9781781313084: The Race Against the Stasi: The Incredible Story of Dieter Wiedemann, The Iron Curtain and The Greatest Cycling Race on Earth

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  1781313083 ISBN 13:  9781781313084
Publisher: Aurum Press, 2014
Hardcover

  • 9781459691094: The Race Against The Stasi: The Incredible Story Of Dieter Wiedemann, The Iron Curtain And The Greatest Cycling Race On Earth

    ReadHo..., 2015
    Softcover

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Seller Image

Sykes, Herbie
Published by Aurum Press (2016)
ISBN 10: 1781315361 ISBN 13: 9781781315361
New Softcover Quantity: 4
Seller:
GreatBookPrices
(Columbia, MD, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 24668785-n

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 12.14
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 2.64
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Herbie Sykes
Published by Quarto Publishing PLC (2016)
ISBN 10: 1781315361 ISBN 13: 9781781315361
New PAP Quantity: 15
Seller:
PBShop.store US
(Wood Dale, IL, U.S.A.)

Book Description PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # HU-9781781315361

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 14.79
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

Sykes, Herbie
Published by Aurum Press (2016)
ISBN 10: 1781315361 ISBN 13: 9781781315361
New Soft Cover Quantity: 10
Seller:
booksXpress
(Bayonne, NJ, U.S.A.)

Book Description Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9781781315361

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 17.70
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Herbie Sykes
ISBN 10: 1781315361 ISBN 13: 9781781315361
New paperback Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Blackwell's
(London, United Kingdom)

Book Description paperback. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 9781781315361

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 13.07
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 5.72
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Sykes, Herbie
Published by Aurum Press (2016)
ISBN 10: 1781315361 ISBN 13: 9781781315361
New Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Ebooksweb
(Bensalem, PA, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. . Seller Inventory # 52GZZZ00Y6H7_ns

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 20.34
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Sykes, Herbie
Published by Aurum Pr Ltd (2016)
ISBN 10: 1781315361 ISBN 13: 9781781315361
New Paperback Quantity: 1
Seller:
Revaluation Books
(Exeter, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: Brand New. reprint edition. 400 pages. 7.75x5.00x1.00 inches. In Stock. Seller Inventory # __1781315361

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 11.59
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 12.70
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Herbie Sykes
Published by Aurum Press Ltd (2016)
ISBN 10: 1781315361 ISBN 13: 9781781315361
New Paperback Quantity: 7
Seller:
Monster Bookshop
(Fleckney, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. BRAND NEW ** SUPER FAST SHIPPING FROM UK WAREHOUSE ** 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. Seller Inventory # 9781781315361-GDR

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 13.34
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 11.42
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Sykes, Herbie
Published by Aurum Press (2016)
ISBN 10: 1781315361 ISBN 13: 9781781315361
New Paperback Quantity: 1
Seller:
GoldenWavesOfBooks
(Fayetteville, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_1781315361

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 21.53
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.00
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Herbie Sykes
Published by Aurum Press (2016)
ISBN 10: 1781315361 ISBN 13: 9781781315361
New Paperback / softback Quantity: 5
Seller:
THE SAINT BOOKSTORE
(Southport, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paperback / softback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. Part cycling story, part cold war and love story, this is Ben MacIntyre meets the great escape, a sporting equivalent of Anna Funder's seminal Stasiland. Seller Inventory # B9781781315361

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 14.29
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 11.37
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Sykes, Herbie
Published by Aurum Press (2016)
ISBN 10: 1781315361 ISBN 13: 9781781315361
New Paperback Quantity: 1
Seller:
GoldenDragon
(Houston, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Buy for Great customer experience. Seller Inventory # GoldenDragon1781315361

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 23.16
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.25
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

There are more copies of this book

View all search results for this book