
They Run with Surprising Swiftness
The Women Athletes of Early Modern Britain
- 312 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
Women have battled for a place in the male-dominated world of sports throughout the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, overturning obstacles and highlighting the changing position of women in societies around the world. This has become one of the defining stories of our age and the central story of women's sports. They Run with Surprising Swiftness tells a different and much older, forgotten story with many of the same themes.
Sports have never been the sole preserve of men; women athletes have always been there. As this book shows, throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Britain, women of all ages ran, fought, rode, played football, cricket, tennis, and other sports. They competed in tough, head-to-head events that required extraordinary endurance and skill. Though not labeled "athletic" at the time, these women performed feats that in our age would certainly earn that descriptor. They Run with Surprising Swiftness recognizes these remarkable athletes and their achievements and aims to restore them to their rightful place in the long history of women in sport.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Author’s Note
- Introduction
- 1. In Hera’s Footsteps
- 2. Women Runners in Britain: The Evidence
- 3. “Of Good Conversation”: From 1638
- 4. Running for Shifts and Smocks: To 1699
- 5. “A Prince’s Wine and Biskets”: 1700–1724
- 6. Visitors Write Home: 1725–1749
- 7. Paying the Ultimate Price: 1750–1774
- 8. Exhilaration and Athleticism: 1775–1799
- 9. The Power to Endure: 1800–1824
- 10. Moral Meddling, Cant, and Sheer Humbug: 1825 Onward
- 11. The Runners: Overview, 1638–1850
- 12. Women Tennis Players, Team Players, Fighters, and Jockeys: The Evidence
- 13. The Tennis Players
- 14. The Team Players
- 15. Cricketers of All Ages and Sizes
- 16. The Fighters
- 17. The Equestrians
- 18. Women Athletes: Summary
- Appendix: Understanding Distances, Money, Wagers, and Betting
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index