Overview

Held in Germany, the 1936 Olympic Games sparked international controversy. Should athletes and nations boycott the games to protest the Nazi regime? More Than Just Games is the history of Canada's involvement in the 1936 Olympics. It is the story of the Canadian Olympic officials and promoters who were convinced that national unity and pride demanded that Canadian athletes compete in the Olympics without regard for politics. It is the story of those Canadian athletes, mostly young and far more focused on sport than politics, who were eager to make family, friends, and country proud of their efforts on Canada's behalf. And, finally, it is the story of those Canadians who led an unsuccessful campaign to boycott the Olympics and deny Nazi Germany the propaganda coup of serving as an Olympic host. Written by two noted historians of Canadian Jewish history, Richard Menkis and Harold Troper, More than Just Games brings to life the collision of politics, patriotism, and the passion of sport on the eve of the Second World War.

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9781442626904

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Reviews

Co-authors Richard Menkis and Harold Troper are talented writers with a keen eye for detail. More Than Just Games is not merely honest; it is compelling. -- Holly Cross Blacklocks Reporter, June 6, 2015 That the scholarship of academics with the credentials of [Richard] Menkis and [Harold] Troper would be impeccable I had no doubt. What I hadn't anticipated was the immediacy they could evoke with their writing. The amount of detail they provide serves to bring readers into the period leading up to Canada's decision to send athletes to the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, when there could be no doubt as to the Nazis' actions and intentions. -- Cynthia Ramsey Jewish Independent, Friday, December 4, 2015

'This is a splendid book!' -- Robert K. Barney Sport History Review vol 47:01:2016 'It is a compelling story that deserves to be read.' -- James W.St.G. Walker The American Historical review vol 121:04:2016 'What Menkis & Troper have presented in their book is refreshing and deeply intriguing study of the diverging political and social interests in Canada in the lead up to the 1936 Nazi Olympic Games... Artfully written and is without a doubt, exceptionally researched.' -- Brad J. Congelio Journal of Sport History, vol 43:03:2016 'This book is one of the finest examples of sport history that I've read in some time. More than Just Games will be mainstay on the shelves of historians of years to come.' -- MacIntosh Ross Olympika: The International Journal of Olympic Studies - vol 24:2015 'Menkis & Troper provide an excellent account of the preparations for the games... They offer an outstanding examination of the experience of Canadian athletes and teams in both winter and summer Olympics.' -- Chris Mack The American Jewish Archives Journal vol 68: 01:2016 'Menkis and Troper, veteran Canadian historians have produced a definitive history of Canada's role in the 1936 Olympic Games held in Nazi Germany. Their well-researched account covers all aspects of the games... Highly recommended.' -- J.D. Sarna Choice Magazine vol 53:05:2015 Co-authors Richard Menkis and Harold Troper are talented writers with a keen eye for detail. More Than Just Games is not merely honest; it is compelling. -- Holly Cross Blacklocks Reporter, June 6, 2015 That the scholarship of academics with the credentials of [Richard] Menkis and [Harold] Troper would be impeccable I had no doubt. What I hadn't anticipated was the immediacy they could evoke with their writing. The amount of detail they provide serves to bring readers into the period leading up to Canada's decision to send athletes to the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, when there could be no doubt as to the Nazis' actions and intentions. -- Cynthia Ramsey Jewish Independent, Friday, December 4, 2015

""Co-authors Richard Menkis and Harold Troper are talented writers with a keen eye for detail. More Than Just Games is not merely honest; it is compelling.” -- Holly Cross * Blacklocks Reporter, June 6, 2015 * “That the scholarship of academics with the credentials of [Richard] Menkis and [Harold] Troper would be impeccable I had no doubt. What I hadn’t anticipated was the immediacy they could evoke with their writing. The amount of detail they provide serves to bring readers into the period leading up to Canada’s decision to send athletes to the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, when there could be no doubt as to the Nazis’ actions and intentions. “ -- Cynthia Ramsey * Jewish Independent, Friday, December 4, 2015 * ‘Menkis and Troper, veteran Canadian historians have produced a definitive history of Canada’s role in the 1936 Olympic Games held in Nazi Germany. Their well-researched account covers all aspects of the games…. Highly recommended.’ -- J.D. Sarna * Choice Magazine vol 53:05:2015 * ‘This book is one of the finest examples of sport history that I’ve read in some time. More than Just Games will be mainstay on the shelves of historians of years to come.’ -- MacIntosh Ross * Olympika: The International Journal of Olympic Studies – vol 24:2015 * ‘Menkis & Troper provide an excellent account of the preparations for the games…. They offer an outstanding examination of the experience of Canadian athletes and teams in both winter and summer Olympics.’ -- Chris Mack * The American Jewish Archives Journal vol 68: 01:2016 * ‘It is a compelling story that deserves to be read.’ -- James W.St.G. Walker * The American Historical review vol 121:04:2016 * ‘This is a splendid book!’ -- Robert K. Barney * Sport History Review vol 47:01:2016 * ‘What Menkis & Troper have presented in their book is refreshing and deeply intriguing study of the diverging political and social interests in Canada in the lead up to the 1936 Nazi Olympic Games… Artfully written and is without a doubt, exceptionally researched.’ -- Brad J. Congelio * Journal of Sport History, vol 43:03:2016 *

"'This is a splendid book!' -- Robert K. Barney Sport History Review vol 47:01:2016 'It is a compelling story that deserves to be read.' -- James W.St.G. Walker The American Historical review vol 121:04:2016 'What Menkis & Troper have presented in their book is refreshing and deeply intriguing study of the diverging political and social interests in Canada in the lead up to the 1936 Nazi Olympic Games... Artfully written and is without a doubt, exceptionally researched.' -- Brad J. Congelio Journal of Sport History, vol 43:03:2016 'This book is one of the finest examples of sport history that I've read in some time. More than Just Games will be mainstay on the shelves of historians of years to come.' -- MacIntosh Ross Olympika: The International Journal of Olympic Studies - vol 24:2015 'Menkis & Troper provide an excellent account of the preparations for the games... They offer an outstanding examination of the experience of Canadian athletes and teams in both winter and summer Olympics.' -- Chris Mack The American Jewish Archives Journal vol 68: 01:2016 'Menkis and Troper, veteran Canadian historians have produced a definitive history of Canada's role in the 1936 Olympic Games held in Nazi Germany. Their well-researched account covers all aspects of the games... Highly recommended.' -- J.D. Sarna Choice Magazine vol 53:05:2015 ""Co-authors Richard Menkis and Harold Troper are talented writers with a keen eye for detail. More Than Just Games is not merely honest; it is compelling."" -- Holly Cross Blacklocks Reporter, June 6, 2015 ""That the scholarship of academics with the credentials of [Richard] Menkis and [Harold] Troper would be impeccable I had no doubt. What I hadn't anticipated was the immediacy they could evoke with their writing. The amount of detail they provide serves to bring readers into the period leading up to Canada's decision to send athletes to the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, when there could be no doubt as to the Nazis' actions and intentions. "" -- Cynthia Ramsey Jewish Independent, Friday, December 4, 2015"

Co-authors Richard Menkis and Harold Troper are talented writers with a keen eye for detail. More Than Just Games is not merely honest; it is compelling. -- Holly Cross Blacklocks Reporter, June 6, 2015

Author Information

Richard Menkis is an associate professor in the Departments of History and Classical, Near Eastern, and Religious Studies at the University of British Columbia. He is co-editor with Norman Ravvin of the Canadian Jewish Studies Reader. Harold Troper is professor emeritus of education and history at the University of Toronto.

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