Road to Valour
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Aili and Andres McConnon |
| Products | Biography book |
Road to Valour: A True Story of World War II Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation is a factual account centered on humanitarian and two-time Tour de France champion Gino Bartali. Authored by Aili and Andres McConnon, this work was released in 2012.
The narrative follows Bartali's journey from his humble beginnings in Tuscany to achieving professional cycling acclaim, highlighted by his Tour de France triumphs in 1938 and 1948. Additionally, it uncovers his secretive activities during World War II in Italy, including the transportation of forged identity papers and providing refuge to a Jewish family.
Reception
After five weeks on the market, the book attained the eighth position on the Maclean's Non-Fiction Bestseller List as of September 8, 2012.
Critical reception
Ben Reiter of Sports Illustrated lauded the book’s “thorough research,” likening it to Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit: An American Legend. Bill Littlefield, writing for NPR and The Boston Globe, praised the authors for their compelling portrayal of Bartali’s life. The Globe and Mail described the work as “meticulously researched and captivatingly narrated.” According to Publishers Weekly, it is “both uplifting and highly enjoyable,” while Booklist characterized it as a "powerful and poignant tale largely unfamiliar to many readers." Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel regarded Bartali’s account as "a poignant demonstration of ethical bravery."
Honors
In 2012, Road to Valour was awarded the Mazzei Prize by the National Italian-American Foundation. The following year, it earned a Christopher Award and the Canadian Jewish Book Award for biography. It also stood as a finalist for the 2013 PEN/ESPN Prize for Literary Sports Writing.