Major

November 12, 2007
According to Balf, at the turn of the century the invention of the bicycle “democratized transport.” But as Balf also points out, despite the bicycle’s ability to break down society’s social structure, it couldn’t make the prejudiced world of segregation, lynching and Jim Crow disappear. This new biography chronicles the life of the unlikeliest of stars in the early years of cycling: Marshall “Major” Taylor. Taylor was an incomparable athlete, poet and celebrity, but he was also a black man living during a time when the scars of the Civil War and slavery were still fresh in the minds of Americans. Balf, who writes for Men’s Journal
, does great work presenting the complex nature of Taylor’s life, including his up-bringing in poverty in Indianapolis, the years he was treated as a son by a rich white family, the fans who both worshipped and vilified him and his close relationships with his white trainer and promoter. Much of the book revolves around Taylor’s rivalry with the pugnacious, bigoted Floyd McFarland to be the fastest rider in the world, with their stirring final battle in Australia serving as the book’s inspiring climax. Balf’s prose is both evocative and informative, as can be seen in his description of the feeling one gets on one’s first bike ride: the moment when doubt and fear release in a simple, fundamental expression of emotions. Despite all the injustices, injuries and obstacles he faced, Taylor never lost that feeling and that’s what makes this a truly engaging narrative. Photos.

April 1, 2008
Adult/High School-When the automobile was a newfangled invention, Americans flocked to racetracks to watch bicycle competitions. One of the best racers in the nation was Major Taylor, a black man in a sport dominated by whites. In this biography, Balf describes both the racial discrimination Taylor faced and his focused determination to triumph despite the odds. And triumph he did, beating all of the top professional racers in both North America and Europe. The book culminates with the amazing tale of the injured Taylor, known worldwide as Americas champion, rising from a hospital bed to race his archrival when he could not pedal a bike without screaming in pain. Following that race, Taylor retired and soon was all but forgotten. An epilogue covers his renaissance, in the form of a growing number of African-American bicycle clubs and racing teams named in his honor. Balf starts his account slowly, providing copious background material, but as the chapters progress, the pace quickens and the tale becomes increasingly gripping. Recommend this one not only to teens interested in bicycling, but also to anyone looking for an inspirational biography."Sandy Schmitz, Berkeley Public Library, CA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 15, 2007
Marshall Taylor (18781932) is largely unknown now, but this biography ought to change that. Major, as he was known, was one of the first, if not the very first, African American superstars in the then-brand-new sport of bicycle racing. Born in rural Indiana, Majorthe nickname came from the soldiers uniform he wore when he was a trick cyclistwas generally considered to be the fastest man on two wheels, winning race after race and becoming, as Balf explains, the worlds least likely celebrity. The author traces Taylors rise to stardom, his battles with bigotry, and his long-standing rivalry with the only man who could challenge him for the title of the worlds fastest man, Floyd McFarland. The book also offers up a capsule history of bicycling (in particular its rapid transitionfrom leisurely pastime to spectator sport to mania), but its Major Taylor who is the central focus, a humble man thrust into the limelight and held up for all the world to see. His rise to fame, and his subsequent fall back into obscurity, is the stuff of Hollywood legend, and Balf tells his story with a cinematic eye, combining strong visual descriptions and sharp characterizations. Like Major Taylor himself, the book is a surefire winnerand a sleeper candidate in that ongoing competition to become the next Seabiscuit.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)