The Fast Men
Everything has a history. We know about athletics in ancient Greece, but how many are privy to the secrets of race-running in Victorian England and America’s Wild West? Throw in a little Shakespeare for good measure (not to mention the appearance of Phineas T. Barnum) and you have the fascinating milieu of The Fast Men. Tom McNab treats his readers to the fascinating sub-culture of the Western genre – towns where folk are as hungry for theatre and sport as for “Injuns” and Colt 45s.
The story is essentially a saga covering thirty years of the adventures of one Moriarty, a likeable Scotsman, talented thespian and amateur athlete. Health issues force him in the role of coach rather than foot-racer or “pedestrian” but he proves adept at training Buck Miller and Billy Joe Speed, the racing fraternity’s equal to Alias Smith and Jones. Moriarty also acquires a splendidly English aristocratic wife, whose renditions of Shakespearian heroines are not appreciated at home so she heads for them thare hills with great enthusiasm. The idea is that winning running races will generate enough money to set up a permanent theatre company. Even more financial success is assured by strategic betting on who will win – hence the smoke and mirrors of ingenious scams. So, prepare yourselves for astonishing descriptions of races around the towns and cities of 19th-century America: you’ll taste the dust and feel the muscle cramps! You’ll find yourself cheering on a great cast of colourful characters as they pursue their aspirations. A warning: do not expect to draw breath until the last page. By then you’ll be in great condition as a reader.
