The Greatest Fight of Our Generation: Louis vs. Schmeling
In 1938, radio announcer Clem McCarthy called the rematch between German Max Schmeling and American Joe Louis "the greatest fight of our generation." The greatest fight, as it turned out, was still to come and would be contested outside the boxing ring. This new book examines a world near war and grapple with the lasting importance of Louis versus Schmeling. Erenberg's aim is academic, and his writing not greatly exciting. Here, the fights are examined through the lens of Depression-era gender roles, nationalism, and race relations. The actual boxing takes a definite backseat (the description of the first Louis-Schmeling fight lasts just two pages). Devoting much of the book to the fighters' lives (and unlikely friendship) after boxing, Erenberg sheds light on both men's dealings with injustice, bringing into focus Schmeling's complicated relationship with Nazism and Louis' quiet struggle against segregation. The depth of analysis here is compelling, but it often reads more like a doctoral thesis than a boxing book. This is clearly a second choice for the general reader, but it's a useful supplementary source for those with a deep interest in the topic.John GreenCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.