5.0 

Barbara Ann Scott: Queen of the Ice

By Ryan Stevens
Barbara Ann Scott: Queen of the Ice by Ryan Stevens digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

Now, more than ever, we need great Canadian stories.

The first Canadian woman to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics, Barbara Ann Scott transcended her sport, becoming a symbol of hope and inspiration.

Scott's stunning victory at the 1948 Olympics uplifted a nation grappling with the aftermath of World War II, inspiring thousands of Canadians to dream big and strive for excellence in their own lives.

Barbara Ann Scott: Queen of the Ice is a fascinating new biography that will delight knowledgeable and passionate fans of figure skating and history lovers alike.

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Barbara Ann Scott: Queen of the Ice Reviews

5.0
“Absolutely delightful and educational! I really enjoyed this book! Though I am a figure skating fan already, Barbara Ann Scott, in particular, interests me because she continues to be remembered in Canada as our only Olympic champ in women’s singles. This book contains very in-depth research. I felt that pacing was spot-on: it includes lots of detail, but not so much that readers will feel swamped in buckets of information, and the pace moves fast enough to keep you interested, without brushing over too many moments. The book itself isn’t too long, as it includes a long section of photographs and appendices. My long reading time on here is reflective of holiday business and I read it over the course of about three sittings. It was fascinating to read about just how famous Barbara Ann was at her peak — can you imagine any modern athletes being given a car by the government?! — but also how not everyone was on board with the honours presented to her. I also enjoyed comparing how skating has changed since her time (double loop being a difficult elite trick jump; the inclusion of figures; the North American Championships) and how it hasn’t (lack of funding, intense training, corrupt judging, the use of “Danse Macabre”). Overall, this book is a must-read for hardcore skating fans, but it would also be a great introduction for newer or non-fans. I will definitely be reading more of Stevens’ work. Five stars!! **I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review**”
“What a wonderful approach to a Canadian legend we rarely hear about nowadays. I loved reading about her early life and years of success competing and touring, which were well detailed. I learnt a lot about the early days of figure skating, how different it was back then, and how much harder.”

About Ryan Stevens

Award-winning author Ryan Stevens is a respected authority on figure skating history. For over a decade, his popular blog Skate Guard has attracted thousands of readers worldwide. Midwest Book Review describes his work as "informative, lively, and scholarly."

Ryan has contributed to Skating magazine and U.S. Figure Skating, and his expertise has been sought by museums and broadcasters including CBC, NBC and ITV. He is the author of Jackson Haines: The Skating King and Barbara Ann Scott: Queen of the Ice.

Ryan lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. You can follow his blog Skate Guard on Facebook @SkateGuard and Instagram @SkateGuardBlog.

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