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McFarland Books issued the following;
New Book Explores Greek Immigrant Who Rescued Pro Wrestling
McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, has announced publication of Jim Londos: The Golden Greek of Professional Wrestling.
Authored by award-winning journalist Steven Johnson, the book takes readers on the amazing journey of a pro wrestler who rode a steamship across the Atlantic as a chubby 15-year-old, only to become the most well-known active athlete in the world during the Depression years.
Combining an Old World work ethic with a flair for the dramatic, Londos was pro wrestling’s greatest world champion, an international celebrity who walked with presidents, prime ministers and mayors. He revived the soiled sport during the Depression and represented achievement to ethnic, blue-collar and female fans, culminating in a historic match that drew 90,000 fans to the ancient Olympic stadium in Athens and the hillsides around it.
More than a wrestling book, The Golden Greek sheds new light on a neglected aspect of athletic entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s when wrestling ranked alongside baseball, prizefighting and horse racing as dominant forms of sports activity in the country. It traces the trying circumstances in Greece that led to Londos’ emergence as a national idol and his determination to win the approval of his father, who disowned him because he wanted to wrestle for a living.
Former world champion John “JBL” Layfield, a businessman, commentator and member of the WWE Hall of Fame, wrote the foreword. Londos is the one wrestler that Layfield wishes he could have fought. “Not because I thought I could beat him, but because he was the greatest this business has ever seen.”
Early praise for The Golden Greek:
“He saved pro wrestling from ruin and set the template that is followed to this day. … This is a quintessential American story.”
— Jeff Leen, author, The Queen of the Ring,
retired Washington Post assistant managing editor for investigations
“Steve Johnson captures not only the greatness and athletic achievements of an iconic athlete, but also wonderfully weaves such into the much bigger tapestry, the transformation of American life and the acceptance of ‘others’ into our mainstream. Well-done!”
— Gregory J. Stamos, attorney and chairman,
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association Athletic Hall of Fame
“This is an important work on an important figure in American sports.”
—Jim Cornette, author, podcaster, wrestling manager/producer/booker,
The Jim Cornette Experience
Jim Londos: The Golden Greek of Professional Wrestling is available through McFarland’s website at McFarlandBooks.com, which ships internationally, as well as other retailers. The McFarland site offers a 20% off discount through Dec. 31, 2024 through code HOLIDAY24.
About Steven Johnson: Johnson is an award-winning journalist who has co-authored six books on wrestling and covered everything from murders for hire to Hurricane Katrina. He lives near Richmond, Virginia. He contacted by email at stevendjohnson@alumni.virginia.edu, cell or text at 540-915-9787 with a profile on muckrack.com.stevenjohnsonuva.
About McFarland: McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, is perhaps best known for the serious treatment of popular culture. Founded in 1979, the company is recognized among authors and readers as adventurous in range and a reliable source of worthy books that other publishers overlook. McFarland is now one of the leading publishers of academic nonfiction in the United States, offering about 8,000 titles in print. McFarland publishes more than 280 new titles each year for a worldwide market; almost all new books are published simultaneously in a print edition and an ebook edition.
For book reviews and author interviews, use this form. For permissions to reprint, please contact Lois Grubbs, Permissions Manager, at lgrubb@mcfarlandpub.com.
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