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A Flame of Pure Fire: Jack Dempsey and the Roaring '20s
Jack Dempsey was perfectly suited to the time in which he fought, the time when the United States first felt the throb of its own overwhelming power. For eight years and two months after World War I, Dempsey, with his fierce good looks and matchless dedication to the kill, was heavyweight champion of the world. A Flame of Pure Fire is the extraordinary story of a man and a country growing to maturity in a blaze of strength and exuberance that nearly burned them to ash. Hobo, roughneck, fighter, lover, millionaire, movie star, and, finally, a gentleman of rare generosity and sincerity, Dempsey embodied an America grappling with the confusing demands of preeminence. Dempsey lived a life that touched every part of the American experience in the first half of the twentieth century. Roger Kahn, one of our preeminent writers about the human side of sport, has found in Dempsey a subject that matches his own manifold talents. A friend of Dempsey's and an insightful observer of the ways in which sport can measure a society's evolution, Kahn reaches a new and exciting stage in his acclaimed career with this book. In the story of a man John Lardner called "a flame of pure fire, at last a hero," Roger Kahn finds the heart of America.
496 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 1999
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About the author
Roger Kahn
44 books64 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Roger Kahn was best known for The Boys of Summer, about the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Roger Kahn was best known for The Boys of Summer, about the Brooklyn Dodgers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 25, 2014
This purports to be a study of the heavyweight who helped legitimize boxing by being a superb athlete and, outwardly at least, a gentleman. Dempsey was, without question, a very interesting character. This biography, which is actually hagiography, however, is almost useless in showing us Dempsey the man rather than the icon. A man, you see, has flaws, and the Dempsey portrayed here – by a starry-eyed, name-dropping adorer who more than once describes the Manassa Mauler as “beautiful” – has none.
What about those tales of Dempsey being in with the mob? A myth. How does Kahn know? According to Dempsey, he turned Al Capone down, and that was that. That’s good enough for Kahn. Wasn’t Carpentier too light for Dempsey, as all contemporary reporters thought? No, another myth. (Even though Kahn quotes Dempsey himself as saying “he’s just too light to beat me.”) What about rumors of Jack’s hands being taped with plaster of Paris? Another myth. But, on the other hand, was Dempsey-Tunney II, which Jack lost, fixed? Without a doubt, according to Kahn. Playing fast and loose with quotes and facts, casting Dempsey’s first wife as “a whore” “out of a screaming nightmare” and Dempsey as a knight in shining armor, dismissing all other boxers without any thought, Kahn is obviously far too in love with his subject to have anything useful to say. Oh, it’s fairly well written and does give some picture of the era. But Dempsey the man? He’s not in this book.
What about those tales of Dempsey being in with the mob? A myth. How does Kahn know? According to Dempsey, he turned Al Capone down, and that was that. That’s good enough for Kahn. Wasn’t Carpentier too light for Dempsey, as all contemporary reporters thought? No, another myth. (Even though Kahn quotes Dempsey himself as saying “he’s just too light to beat me.”) What about rumors of Jack’s hands being taped with plaster of Paris? Another myth. But, on the other hand, was Dempsey-Tunney II, which Jack lost, fixed? Without a doubt, according to Kahn. Playing fast and loose with quotes and facts, casting Dempsey’s first wife as “a whore” “out of a screaming nightmare” and Dempsey as a knight in shining armor, dismissing all other boxers without any thought, Kahn is obviously far too in love with his subject to have anything useful to say. Oh, it’s fairly well written and does give some picture of the era. But Dempsey the man? He’s not in this book.
January 14, 2009
Roger Kahn writes much of this book through interviews with Jack Dempsey.
Jack Dempsey was not only the heavyweight boxing champion of most of the 1920’s but in all likelihood America’s first celebrity superstar. He is another of a long list of rags- to- riches American story. He grew up with a Dad who could not keep a job and moved from state to state, city to city, dabbled in Mormonism yet was known as a drunk. Jack however did not drink. He grew up working hard in fields and mines.
His mother had a book about the first recognized boxing champion John L. Sullivan. She would read it to the young Dempsey children. That would start the spark in Jack’s mind to become a boxer. He was 6’1 and only 150 lbs as a teenager but would travel from bar to bar challenging people to fight him. He was always obliged. But to the surprise of the patrons this skinny kid hit so hard that he knocked out much larger men.
He mingled in the underworld and traveled by hopping on the railroad as it passed by. He married a prostitute who by all accounts he loved dearly. She, a much older woman, would not travel with him as he looked for opponents to box through the West. So they separated.
He finds opponents and wins almost all bouts and by early knockout in most cases due to his extreme training and powerful punches. In the meantime the current heavyweight champion Jack Johnson was ruling the heavyweight division by easily beating anyone they would throw at him. Jack Johnson was a black man who teased white society by driving fancy cars and dating white women. Dempsey trained diligently to fulfill the “Great White Hope” role of defeating the great black champion. Something many Americans were looking for.
But to the surprise of many, a huge white man named Jess Willard knocked out Jack Johnson in the 26th round to become the new heavyweight champion. Johnson said afterward that Willard was just too big to be knocked out by any anyone. In all of Willard’s prior fights he was never knocked out, proving Johnson’s point.
Dempsey who had grown into the 190lb weight range was the up and coming boxer whom his wily manger Doc Kearns was able to obtain a fight with Willard. So, the fight was set. Most thought Willard would win but many were picking Dempsey.
Dempsey went after Willard with a vengeance. He threw blistering combinations with sledge hammer like power. He knocks Willard down and stands over him in a ready to pounce mode. When Willard attempts to rise, Dempsey releases another powerhouse right that sets Willard down to the mat again (in the 1920’s standing over a downed opponent was still legal). This kind of action goes on for three rounds until finally Willard could take no more. Jack Dempsey was the new heavyweight champion. This fight can be viewed on You Tube.
After this fight, Dempsey becomes the most popular man in America. He is offered promotional deal after promotional deal. He is paid to put on boxing performances and is paid to star in short movie rolls as a character named “Dare Devil Jack.”
As newspapers learned how covering celebrity activities sell newspapers, they also learned how celebrity scandal sold more newspapers. An investigation found that Dempsey did not serve in WWI due to a deferment. The state tried to prove that there was no deferment granted. So a trial ensued to the delight of newspapers. Deferments were granted if the man was shown to be a main provider for someone else. The states case tried to prove that Dempsey supported no one.
Well along comes Dempsey’s former prostitute wife Maxine. He was married to her at the time of the deferment but has since divorced. Maxine was coerced by both her brothel house mates and others to say that Dempsey never sent her money in an attempt to “shake” him.
What was proven was that Dempsey not only sent her thousand’s of dollars but he was also the sole support for his separated mother and father as well as his sick sibling. He was acquitted angry veterans of WWI dubbed him a “Slacker” because he did not serve in the war.
The author approaches the story by telling a part of the trial story. Then he would switch to other goings on in the 1920’s. For example, the silver/gold currency controversy was succinctly discussed. Then he would go back to the trial. After a few pages he would start with Warren Harding’s rise to the presidency. And then back to the trial.
After his acquittal, he moves to Hollywood and meets and subsequently dates Estelle Taylor who is a, somewhat, famous silent movie star. At the same time, there are no credible opponents on the champion’s horizon. Either the good boxers were afraid or the willing were not yet accomplished enough opponents. So, Jack starts to enjoy the plush Hollywood lifestyle. This drives his manager Doc Kearns crazy. Kearns believed that women in general were bad for boxers and that Taylor was particularly bad for Dempsey.
Kearns sure looked right when Dempsey put on a poor but winning showing against challenger Tommy Gibbons. In addition, Doc Kearns promoted this fight and ended up losing money for the first time in Dempsey’s career. Well the riff between Dempsey and Kearns starts to open. Dempsey getting older and wiser sees how much money Kearns was making as his trainer. In fact, it was 50% of all Dempsey’s purses plus expenses.
While Jack had time to think about Kearns, Kearns was thinking about Dempsey’s marriage. He assured himself that Dempsey’s wife Taylor had caused his lack luster performance. So, he pays a private investigator to find out about Taylor. He finds out that she was quite promiscuous and actually was married to someone beside Dempsey. Then Kearns, who was living in New York, decides to visit Dempsey in Hollywood. He shows up to Dempsey and his wife Taylor drunk and lets his venom out on Taylor reciting all her affairs and revealing details about her other marriage. Taylor is incensed.
Taylor wants Kearns fired. Dempsey liked Kearns but was upset about the money. So, Dempsey goes to Kearns and says he wants Kearn’s fight purse percentage cut from 50 to 35%. Kearns “in an I am responsible for your success like manner” refuses the pay cut as a result Dempsey and Kearns split.
Dempsey becomes a self manager and defeats a highly regarded big, strong Argentinean opponent named Louis Firpo in a slugfest. While all this was going on, the light heavyweight champion Gene Tunney was watching and studying Dempsey eagerly awaiting a match with the champion.
Tunney finally gets scheduled to meet the champion in Philadelphia. Few gave the light heavyweight champion a chance. Tunney had been training and studying Dempsey for seven years. When they meet, Tunney puts on a masterful performance. He used jabs to keep Dempsey at bay, backed away from Dempsey’s vicious hooks and countered over his rights. Tunney easily wins a 10 round decision and the heavy weight championship of the world and repeats in a much anticipated rematch the following year. This rematch gives us one of the most dramatic moments in sports - the famous “long count.” The “long count” refers to Dempsey while obviously losing the bout unleashes one of his tremendous hooks and Tunney goes down. The referee does not start the count until Dempsey moves to a neutral corner. Some say this gave Tunney an extra six or seven seconds and that he would have never gotten up in the regulation amount count of ten.
The author somewhat strangely delves into the mob related connections of Tunney and tries to lay doubts into honest Tunney victories. The author is obviously in a Dempsey hero worship mode because in almost all eyes Dempsey was thoroughly beaten.
Dempsey retires wealthy, divorces Estelle Taylor and seems quite happy. He then loses his fortune in the stock market crash. However, he takes it all in stride. He joins the coast guard when WWII breaks out. And at 49 years of age he is part of the Battle of Okinawa. He comes back and opens a successful restaurant in New York.
From all accounts, Dempsey was a great champion and wonderful person. He not only supported his extended family but took care of many injured boxers.
Jack Dempsey was not only the heavyweight boxing champion of most of the 1920’s but in all likelihood America’s first celebrity superstar. He is another of a long list of rags- to- riches American story. He grew up with a Dad who could not keep a job and moved from state to state, city to city, dabbled in Mormonism yet was known as a drunk. Jack however did not drink. He grew up working hard in fields and mines.
His mother had a book about the first recognized boxing champion John L. Sullivan. She would read it to the young Dempsey children. That would start the spark in Jack’s mind to become a boxer. He was 6’1 and only 150 lbs as a teenager but would travel from bar to bar challenging people to fight him. He was always obliged. But to the surprise of the patrons this skinny kid hit so hard that he knocked out much larger men.
He mingled in the underworld and traveled by hopping on the railroad as it passed by. He married a prostitute who by all accounts he loved dearly. She, a much older woman, would not travel with him as he looked for opponents to box through the West. So they separated.
He finds opponents and wins almost all bouts and by early knockout in most cases due to his extreme training and powerful punches. In the meantime the current heavyweight champion Jack Johnson was ruling the heavyweight division by easily beating anyone they would throw at him. Jack Johnson was a black man who teased white society by driving fancy cars and dating white women. Dempsey trained diligently to fulfill the “Great White Hope” role of defeating the great black champion. Something many Americans were looking for.
But to the surprise of many, a huge white man named Jess Willard knocked out Jack Johnson in the 26th round to become the new heavyweight champion. Johnson said afterward that Willard was just too big to be knocked out by any anyone. In all of Willard’s prior fights he was never knocked out, proving Johnson’s point.
Dempsey who had grown into the 190lb weight range was the up and coming boxer whom his wily manger Doc Kearns was able to obtain a fight with Willard. So, the fight was set. Most thought Willard would win but many were picking Dempsey.
Dempsey went after Willard with a vengeance. He threw blistering combinations with sledge hammer like power. He knocks Willard down and stands over him in a ready to pounce mode. When Willard attempts to rise, Dempsey releases another powerhouse right that sets Willard down to the mat again (in the 1920’s standing over a downed opponent was still legal). This kind of action goes on for three rounds until finally Willard could take no more. Jack Dempsey was the new heavyweight champion. This fight can be viewed on You Tube.
After this fight, Dempsey becomes the most popular man in America. He is offered promotional deal after promotional deal. He is paid to put on boxing performances and is paid to star in short movie rolls as a character named “Dare Devil Jack.”
As newspapers learned how covering celebrity activities sell newspapers, they also learned how celebrity scandal sold more newspapers. An investigation found that Dempsey did not serve in WWI due to a deferment. The state tried to prove that there was no deferment granted. So a trial ensued to the delight of newspapers. Deferments were granted if the man was shown to be a main provider for someone else. The states case tried to prove that Dempsey supported no one.
Well along comes Dempsey’s former prostitute wife Maxine. He was married to her at the time of the deferment but has since divorced. Maxine was coerced by both her brothel house mates and others to say that Dempsey never sent her money in an attempt to “shake” him.
What was proven was that Dempsey not only sent her thousand’s of dollars but he was also the sole support for his separated mother and father as well as his sick sibling. He was acquitted angry veterans of WWI dubbed him a “Slacker” because he did not serve in the war.
The author approaches the story by telling a part of the trial story. Then he would switch to other goings on in the 1920’s. For example, the silver/gold currency controversy was succinctly discussed. Then he would go back to the trial. After a few pages he would start with Warren Harding’s rise to the presidency. And then back to the trial.
After his acquittal, he moves to Hollywood and meets and subsequently dates Estelle Taylor who is a, somewhat, famous silent movie star. At the same time, there are no credible opponents on the champion’s horizon. Either the good boxers were afraid or the willing were not yet accomplished enough opponents. So, Jack starts to enjoy the plush Hollywood lifestyle. This drives his manager Doc Kearns crazy. Kearns believed that women in general were bad for boxers and that Taylor was particularly bad for Dempsey.
Kearns sure looked right when Dempsey put on a poor but winning showing against challenger Tommy Gibbons. In addition, Doc Kearns promoted this fight and ended up losing money for the first time in Dempsey’s career. Well the riff between Dempsey and Kearns starts to open. Dempsey getting older and wiser sees how much money Kearns was making as his trainer. In fact, it was 50% of all Dempsey’s purses plus expenses.
While Jack had time to think about Kearns, Kearns was thinking about Dempsey’s marriage. He assured himself that Dempsey’s wife Taylor had caused his lack luster performance. So, he pays a private investigator to find out about Taylor. He finds out that she was quite promiscuous and actually was married to someone beside Dempsey. Then Kearns, who was living in New York, decides to visit Dempsey in Hollywood. He shows up to Dempsey and his wife Taylor drunk and lets his venom out on Taylor reciting all her affairs and revealing details about her other marriage. Taylor is incensed.
Taylor wants Kearns fired. Dempsey liked Kearns but was upset about the money. So, Dempsey goes to Kearns and says he wants Kearn’s fight purse percentage cut from 50 to 35%. Kearns “in an I am responsible for your success like manner” refuses the pay cut as a result Dempsey and Kearns split.
Dempsey becomes a self manager and defeats a highly regarded big, strong Argentinean opponent named Louis Firpo in a slugfest. While all this was going on, the light heavyweight champion Gene Tunney was watching and studying Dempsey eagerly awaiting a match with the champion.
Tunney finally gets scheduled to meet the champion in Philadelphia. Few gave the light heavyweight champion a chance. Tunney had been training and studying Dempsey for seven years. When they meet, Tunney puts on a masterful performance. He used jabs to keep Dempsey at bay, backed away from Dempsey’s vicious hooks and countered over his rights. Tunney easily wins a 10 round decision and the heavy weight championship of the world and repeats in a much anticipated rematch the following year. This rematch gives us one of the most dramatic moments in sports - the famous “long count.” The “long count” refers to Dempsey while obviously losing the bout unleashes one of his tremendous hooks and Tunney goes down. The referee does not start the count until Dempsey moves to a neutral corner. Some say this gave Tunney an extra six or seven seconds and that he would have never gotten up in the regulation amount count of ten.
The author somewhat strangely delves into the mob related connections of Tunney and tries to lay doubts into honest Tunney victories. The author is obviously in a Dempsey hero worship mode because in almost all eyes Dempsey was thoroughly beaten.
Dempsey retires wealthy, divorces Estelle Taylor and seems quite happy. He then loses his fortune in the stock market crash. However, he takes it all in stride. He joins the coast guard when WWII breaks out. And at 49 years of age he is part of the Battle of Okinawa. He comes back and opens a successful restaurant in New York.
From all accounts, Dempsey was a great champion and wonderful person. He not only supported his extended family but took care of many injured boxers.
August 15, 2017
While this is not the usual full review I write, I have to at least give this a short review because it was SO good! The reader will learn much about Jack Dempsey both inside and outside the ring as well as the excesses and glamour of the 1920's. Kahn's writing about Dempsey's fight to gain the title as well as the famous "long count" is some of the best writing I have read on the sweet science.
March 27, 2019
In a rangy raconteur like style Roger Kahn tells the story of Jack Dempsey and his times which were
the Roaring 20s. Kahn digresses a lot in his narrative and talks a lot about other events of the 20s
like the Scopes Trial, the Floyd Collins tragedy, Lucky Lindy, and presidents Warren Harding and
Calvin Coolidge. All for the sake of a proper narrative to his story.
Dempsey was born in Manassas, Colorado to poor jack Mormon parents. That term means that the
individual was at one time a member of the Church of Latter Days Saints and had fallen away from the
faith. He had one hardscrabble childhood and grew up pretty fast in the mining towns of Colorado
and Utah. He discovered a talent for pugilism at an early age and figured right that it was the best
way to make a living.
From 1914 to 1919 he got the best kind of ring experience fighting in all kinds of arenas and tanktowns and gaining the experience. Along the way he had some unscrupulous managers who
took advantage of a lack of education. He did however get lucky in getting one of the legends of
fight managers in Jack 'Doc' Kearns who knew his business like no other. He guided Dempsey's
career through a list of contenders, gradually moving him up in class until on the 4th of July in 1919
when Dempsey met Jess Willard all 6'7" of him in Toledo, Ohio. Willard who towered over Dempsey by a head and was 50 lbs more was reduced to a bloody pulp and Dempsey became champion.
Kearns also saw him through a scandal about him being a draft dodger. He was cleared of it mostly
in the court of public opinion. Still there more than one cry of slacker at his title defenses and
exhibition bouts for the rest of his career.
The fights are there also, the most well known ones like with fancy French boxer Georges Carpentier and with the Wild Bull of the Pampas Luis Angel Firpo who was a brawler who hit with
a mule kick punch. At the Polo Grounds Firpo provided one of the most dramatic moments in
boxing history when he sent Dempsey through the ring ropes after Dempsey had knocked him down several times. Firpo had that kind of stamina and Dempsey got helped back in the ring by
sportswriters pushing him off their typewriters. There's also the fiasco of Shelby, Montana where
Dempsey fought Tommy Gibbons, but Doc Kearns acted as promoter and bankrupted the town.
Two fights that are not mentioned that often are his defenses against Bill Brennan who was a mob
fighter and killed afterwards in a gangland shootout and Billy Miske. Miske was a courageous man
dying slowly of kidney failure and Dempsey liked and respected him as most of the boxing profession did. He went 3 rounds in 1920 and was knocked out for the only time in his career by
Dempsey. His is a great story, a lot like Jim Braddock but more tragic.
After the Firpo fight in 1923 Dempsey was idle for 3 years. He married Hollywood silent star Estelle Taylor to the disapproval of Doc Kearns who broke with him. When he got back in the ring
he lost his title on a decision to Gene Tunney.
Dempsey to boxing was what Babe Ruth was to baseball, what Bill Tilden was to tennis, what Red
Grange was to football, a colorful character brought to life in the public imagination by some talented sportswriters in the Golden era of sports. It's a story that still fascinates.
the Roaring 20s. Kahn digresses a lot in his narrative and talks a lot about other events of the 20s
like the Scopes Trial, the Floyd Collins tragedy, Lucky Lindy, and presidents Warren Harding and
Calvin Coolidge. All for the sake of a proper narrative to his story.
Dempsey was born in Manassas, Colorado to poor jack Mormon parents. That term means that the
individual was at one time a member of the Church of Latter Days Saints and had fallen away from the
faith. He had one hardscrabble childhood and grew up pretty fast in the mining towns of Colorado
and Utah. He discovered a talent for pugilism at an early age and figured right that it was the best
way to make a living.
From 1914 to 1919 he got the best kind of ring experience fighting in all kinds of arenas and tanktowns and gaining the experience. Along the way he had some unscrupulous managers who
took advantage of a lack of education. He did however get lucky in getting one of the legends of
fight managers in Jack 'Doc' Kearns who knew his business like no other. He guided Dempsey's
career through a list of contenders, gradually moving him up in class until on the 4th of July in 1919
when Dempsey met Jess Willard all 6'7" of him in Toledo, Ohio. Willard who towered over Dempsey by a head and was 50 lbs more was reduced to a bloody pulp and Dempsey became champion.
Kearns also saw him through a scandal about him being a draft dodger. He was cleared of it mostly
in the court of public opinion. Still there more than one cry of slacker at his title defenses and
exhibition bouts for the rest of his career.
The fights are there also, the most well known ones like with fancy French boxer Georges Carpentier and with the Wild Bull of the Pampas Luis Angel Firpo who was a brawler who hit with
a mule kick punch. At the Polo Grounds Firpo provided one of the most dramatic moments in
boxing history when he sent Dempsey through the ring ropes after Dempsey had knocked him down several times. Firpo had that kind of stamina and Dempsey got helped back in the ring by
sportswriters pushing him off their typewriters. There's also the fiasco of Shelby, Montana where
Dempsey fought Tommy Gibbons, but Doc Kearns acted as promoter and bankrupted the town.
Two fights that are not mentioned that often are his defenses against Bill Brennan who was a mob
fighter and killed afterwards in a gangland shootout and Billy Miske. Miske was a courageous man
dying slowly of kidney failure and Dempsey liked and respected him as most of the boxing profession did. He went 3 rounds in 1920 and was knocked out for the only time in his career by
Dempsey. His is a great story, a lot like Jim Braddock but more tragic.
After the Firpo fight in 1923 Dempsey was idle for 3 years. He married Hollywood silent star Estelle Taylor to the disapproval of Doc Kearns who broke with him. When he got back in the ring
he lost his title on a decision to Gene Tunney.
Dempsey to boxing was what Babe Ruth was to baseball, what Bill Tilden was to tennis, what Red
Grange was to football, a colorful character brought to life in the public imagination by some talented sportswriters in the Golden era of sports. It's a story that still fascinates.
March 25, 2022
I was always interested in Jack Dempsey as my father met and him and supposedly my grandfather. Dr. Frank Corrigan was a 'friend' of the great boxer. What that actually meant I do not know, sadly. But I picked this Roger Kahn bio (with a strong dish of '20s history and culture mixed in) at a 'new' used bookstore in the area and was immediately interested. Kahn is the author of the iconic 'The Boys of Summer' about the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers so I expected an entertaining read! Jack Dempsey, aka 'The Manassa Mauler' was a true American icon, more famous in his heyday than Babe Ruth. His story is a true rags to riches tale with some bizarre detours along the way, told with humor and admiration by Kahn. He also delivers great insight into the old-time writers (mainly sportswriters, but also journalists) of the day, Ring Lardner, Heywood Hale Broun, Grantland Rice and others. The memorable fights are covered of course; Dempsey v. Willard, Miskie, Carpentier, Firpo, Tunney (I & II) but the back stories of training camps and financial dealings with managers and promoters are also given close and often humorous attention. The stories of his long and difficult climb to the top, fighting in small towns and bars across the West as 'Kid Blackie' and sometimes walking to the next fight are something unimaginable in this modern world! It is 100 years, give or take a few, since the chief events of this book. The number of people who actually knew the 'Champ' will soon dwindle to zero but Roger Kahn does a fine job of immortalizing him as one of the great American icons.
May 5, 2024
An enjoyable and well-written read, but it veers far too often in to the realm of hagiography to be truly engaging. Kahn can't seem to get over his bias and admiration for Dempsey to give a true, engaging portrait of the man, and instead feeds into his legend and almost saintly status. There's hints of uncovering the aspects of Dempsey's life that would be truly interesting, such as his rough upbringing, his failed marriages, his volatile relationships, his supposed mob ties, his legal troubles and his "slacker" status, but with all of these things Kahn exonerates Dempsey fully from any wrongdoing. There's no attempt to paint a real picture of Dempsey as a human being instead of a symbol of what Kahn perceives as a true "champion".
This is made even more frustrating by the fact that it's clear that Kahn is a great writer at capturing the flawed personalities of boxers of that era because of the way in which he speaks about Dempsey's opponents. His portraits of Gene Tunney, Luis Fripo and Jess Willard become far more engaging than the subject of the biography because Kahn does not shy away from portraying the full extent of their character, flaws and all. If Kahn turned his mind and pen to Dempsey in the same way, this could've been a highly engaging portrait of the man who overcame significant obstacles to become one of the first and biggest boxing stars, but Kahn refuses to do so.
This is made even more frustrating by the fact that it's clear that Kahn is a great writer at capturing the flawed personalities of boxers of that era because of the way in which he speaks about Dempsey's opponents. His portraits of Gene Tunney, Luis Fripo and Jess Willard become far more engaging than the subject of the biography because Kahn does not shy away from portraying the full extent of their character, flaws and all. If Kahn turned his mind and pen to Dempsey in the same way, this could've been a highly engaging portrait of the man who overcame significant obstacles to become one of the first and biggest boxing stars, but Kahn refuses to do so.
September 22, 2023
Fantastic book about Dempsey and the whole era of the 1920s. Although every quote I couldn’t help but read aloud in a vaudevillian/transatlantic accent.
June 27, 2020
The thrilling story of how the Manassa Mauler brawled and battled his way from mining camps and hick town dive bars to Hollywood and the summit of New York society - alongside a fascinating study of the gals, gangsters and gamblers who made the Twenties really roar.
A literary tour de force from a writer who really knows his stuff - and who actually knew the champ. Brilliant.
A literary tour de force from a writer who really knows his stuff - and who actually knew the champ. Brilliant.
June 23, 2016
Great depiction of Dempsey and the Roaring Twenties Era that he reigned in!
October 13, 2017
"A Flame of Pure Fire" by Roger Kahn is a good read for anyone interested in the life of Jack Dempsey. It is well-researched and provides a number of interviews with the legendary boxer. Roger Kahn is able to drawn in a multitude of sources, ranging from old journalistic accounts to interviews to archival materials.
Kahn situates Dempsey as a figure of his time and against it. It was a prosperous age full of wonder and profligation. The president was Warren Harding; a man known for his corruption and sexual proclivities. The stock market continued to boom with no end in sight (until 1929, of course). Prohibition became law and was believed to end the depravity of alcohol, but people kept drinking. And the titular hero embodied the character of his era - the 1920s. William Harrison "Jack" Demsey, born to an impoverished family in Utah, rose from the ranks of a traveling hobo boxer to a legendary world champion.
Dempsey was encompassed the many dichotomies of the '20s - he was a ferocious fighter in the ring, while being a gentlemanly person outside it. He understood his own monetary value as a fighter, while also being generous with his money to down-and-out boxers. He was deemed a "slacker" (someone who dodged World War I) despite his persistence to join the army. And through it all - Dempsey never complained nor railed against his detractors. He kept to his path toward greatness.
Kahn's biography of Dempsey is one of the best ever written. His strength lies in the accounts of the champion's life. While overall it's written well, Kahn oddly interjects asides that don't apparent particularly relevant, i.e., his own memories of a summer camp, where a camp counselor taught him boxing. In addition, Kahn sporadically includes other events during the time of Dempsey - in an attempt to establish the temporay context - however, it feels a bit random and nonsequiter.
Kahn situates Dempsey as a figure of his time and against it. It was a prosperous age full of wonder and profligation. The president was Warren Harding; a man known for his corruption and sexual proclivities. The stock market continued to boom with no end in sight (until 1929, of course). Prohibition became law and was believed to end the depravity of alcohol, but people kept drinking. And the titular hero embodied the character of his era - the 1920s. William Harrison "Jack" Demsey, born to an impoverished family in Utah, rose from the ranks of a traveling hobo boxer to a legendary world champion.
Dempsey was encompassed the many dichotomies of the '20s - he was a ferocious fighter in the ring, while being a gentlemanly person outside it. He understood his own monetary value as a fighter, while also being generous with his money to down-and-out boxers. He was deemed a "slacker" (someone who dodged World War I) despite his persistence to join the army. And through it all - Dempsey never complained nor railed against his detractors. He kept to his path toward greatness.
Kahn's biography of Dempsey is one of the best ever written. His strength lies in the accounts of the champion's life. While overall it's written well, Kahn oddly interjects asides that don't apparent particularly relevant, i.e., his own memories of a summer camp, where a camp counselor taught him boxing. In addition, Kahn sporadically includes other events during the time of Dempsey - in an attempt to establish the temporay context - however, it feels a bit random and nonsequiter.
July 7, 2023
A monumental book, one of the most impressive I’ve ever read. Kahn tackles several separate stories: a cradle-to-coffin chronicle of Jack Dempsey’s rise and fall, a robust analysis of the Roaring Twenties, a casual description of his own relationship as a young journalist with the Champ, and a number of other tangential deep dives into the ecosystem of the time (Warren G. Harding, Prohibition, Al Capone, to name a few) and he absolutely nails each one. Often such wide-reaching books can get mundane and showy about the amount of research that was done, but this one walks that fine line with grace.
October 1, 2024
This is a detailed, fascinating look at the life and career of boxer (and actor, and restaurant owner) Jack Dempsey, as seen through the terrific lens of the 1920's.
Kahn is relentless in his scholarship of Dempsey, but the book really soars when he brings us into Jack's restaurant where the author is interviewing The Champ, looking back on victories and regrets.
It's a great ride, start to finish - the amount of details for details sake makes it feel a bit long at times, and keeps it from being a perfect book. But, the blending of biography and history is among the best I've read.
Kahn is relentless in his scholarship of Dempsey, but the book really soars when he brings us into Jack's restaurant where the author is interviewing The Champ, looking back on victories and regrets.
It's a great ride, start to finish - the amount of details for details sake makes it feel a bit long at times, and keeps it from being a perfect book. But, the blending of biography and history is among the best I've read.
May 25, 2024
I've wanted to read this book for 25 years, ever since it came out. I love the period of American history that is the Roaring '20s. I've read previous works by Kahn, and it provide a descriptive history of Dempsey and the fight game in the teens and twenties.
The book focuses mostly on Dempsey's few heavyweight championship bouts, and not much after 1926.
Still a very good read, well written, and filled with some wonderful stories.
May 19-May 24, 2024
The book focuses mostly on Dempsey's few heavyweight championship bouts, and not much after 1926.
Still a very good read, well written, and filled with some wonderful stories.
May 19-May 24, 2024
February 2, 2025
Finally got around to finishing this one. I loved it. Jack Dempsey’s story is a perfect portrait of “The American Dream” a humble hobo from the plains who fights his way to fame and fortune, spanning the globe in the process. It’s something like a real American folk tale. I also enjoyed that the book regularly spends time framing up the world Dempsey inhabited over the years, highlighting important cultural changes and events, people, etc.
March 7, 2020
It took me about 100 pages or so to warm to Roger Kahn, who alas passed while I was reading this book. There's a hint of look-Ma-I'm-writing about him. But I warmed to his style which evokes something of the Golden Age of Sports (and sportswriting) that centers the book. Yes, it's about Dempsey, but it's also about an era, and ultimately about America. Worth your time.
June 20, 2022
I picked this up thinking I would share it with my Dad, since Jack Dempsey is one of his childhood idols. It sat on the shelf for a while and I finally decided to pick it up. The author does an excellent job of weaving history and historical context in with Dempsey's life and career. Someone who is interested in history but not boxing, or vice-versa, would enjoy this book.
March 9, 2020
Great book on jack dempsey
Well done. A great champion with a very human approach to life. He represents what I would like every American would be. Walks with Kings but still has the common touch.
Well done. A great champion with a very human approach to life. He represents what I would like every American would be. Walks with Kings but still has the common touch.
October 27, 2021
Roger Kahn presents a very readable story of the times. Jack Dempsey, his background and development through his career serves as a backdrop for the story which tells much more about America in the 1910's and 20's.
April 22, 2019
It's a decent read if you enjoy that particular era of history and sport. Some times a little fawning as opposed to objective, it was still well worth the time. I would recommend this book.
April 25, 2020
Absolutely loved it! Learned a lot about Dempsey
November 20, 2020
I couldn't put this one down. Kahn is an excellent writer, and he took me back to the 1920s vividly.
January 26, 2021
Requiem for the Champ, lovesong to a lost era
December 3, 2021
A very entertaining read.
October 13, 2017
"A Flame of Pure Fire" by Roger Kahn is a good read for anyone interested in the life of Jack Dempsey. It is well-researched and provides a number of interviews with the legendary boxer. Roger Kahn is able to drawn in a multitude of sources, ranging from old journalistic accounts to interviews to archival materials.
Kahn situates Dempsey as a figure of his time and against it. It was a prosperous age full of wonder and profligation. The president was Warren Harding; a man known for his corruption and sexual proclivities. The stock market continued to boom with no end in sight (until 1929, of course). Prohibition became law and was believed to end the depravity of alcohol, but people kept drinking. And the titular hero embodied the character of his era - the 1920s. William Harrison "Jack" Demsey, born to an impoverished family in Utah, rose from the ranks of a traveling hobo boxer to a legendary world champion.
Dempsey was encompassed the many dichotomies of the '20s - he was a ferocious fighter in the ring, while being a gentlemanly person outside it. He understood his own monetary value as a fighter, while also being generous with his money to down-and-out boxers. He was deemed a "slacker" (someone who dodged World War I) despite his persistence to join the army. And through it all - Dempsey never complained nor railed against his detractors. He kept to his path toward greatness.
Kahn's biography of Dempsey is one of the best ever written. His strength lies in the accounts of the champion's life. While overall it's written well, Kahn oddly interjects asides that don't apparent particularly relevant, i.e., his own memories of a summer camp, where a camp counselor taught him boxing. In addition, Kahn sporadically includes other events during the time of Dempsey - in an attempt to establish the temporay context - however, it feels a bit random and nonsequiter.
Kahn situates Dempsey as a figure of his time and against it. It was a prosperous age full of wonder and profligation. The president was Warren Harding; a man known for his corruption and sexual proclivities. The stock market continued to boom with no end in sight (until 1929, of course). Prohibition became law and was believed to end the depravity of alcohol, but people kept drinking. And the titular hero embodied the character of his era - the 1920s. William Harrison "Jack" Demsey, born to an impoverished family in Utah, rose from the ranks of a traveling hobo boxer to a legendary world champion.
Dempsey was encompassed the many dichotomies of the '20s - he was a ferocious fighter in the ring, while being a gentlemanly person outside it. He understood his own monetary value as a fighter, while also being generous with his money to down-and-out boxers. He was deemed a "slacker" (someone who dodged World War I) despite his persistence to join the army. And through it all - Dempsey never complained nor railed against his detractors. He kept to his path toward greatness.
Kahn's biography of Dempsey is one of the best ever written. His strength lies in the accounts of the champion's life. While overall it's written well, Kahn oddly interjects asides that don't apparent particularly relevant, i.e., his own memories of a summer camp, where a camp counselor taught him boxing. In addition, Kahn sporadically includes other events during the time of Dempsey - in an attempt to establish the temporay context - however, it feels a bit random and nonsequiter.
August 23, 2012
An engaging and fun read about the life and times of heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey. As the author was a friend and clear admirer of Dempsey (albeit decades after the important events of Dempsey’s life took place), this makes me wonder how much of this book hits the final truths of the man, as the author seems inclined to believe Dempsey’s version of certain stories that paint Dempsey in a better light.
Jack Dempsey as emblematic of the roaring 20’s with all their excitement, excess, vitality, spirit, description as violent in the ring and comforting/nice guy out of it.
Early life of Dempsey with itinerant family in Colorado, later as drifter, small jobs, boxer throughout the u.s., fighting for small amounts of money, avoidance of world war 1 by claiming support for his extended family
Promotion of dempsey’s heavyweight shot and win against Fess Willard in Toledo, OH in 1919 by Tex Rickard for heavy weight championship
Parts of this feel more like a brief but engaging history of the 20’s (end of world war 1, prohibition, American isolationism in the form of republican ascendancy, harding’s scandal laden presidency, etc.) than an actual biography. Not necessarily a criticism, but something to be aware of for someone who might be reading this strictly for the sports angle.
Dempsey’s days performing in vaudeville acts and smaller roles in Hollywood/serials after defeating Willard for championship
Dempsey (ex-wife) vs. Demspey (Jack) trial for Jack avoiding world war 1 draft, somewhat conflicted wife, jack Dempsey winning trial
Miscellaneous other fights of importance (French carpentier), gibbons in Shelby, Montana and bankrupting the banks/town of Shelby due to fight promotion/money
Ultimate defeat in two fights to tunney (one possibly cheated out of) and then retirement
Jack Dempsey as emblematic of the roaring 20’s with all their excitement, excess, vitality, spirit, description as violent in the ring and comforting/nice guy out of it.
Early life of Dempsey with itinerant family in Colorado, later as drifter, small jobs, boxer throughout the u.s., fighting for small amounts of money, avoidance of world war 1 by claiming support for his extended family
Promotion of dempsey’s heavyweight shot and win against Fess Willard in Toledo, OH in 1919 by Tex Rickard for heavy weight championship
Parts of this feel more like a brief but engaging history of the 20’s (end of world war 1, prohibition, American isolationism in the form of republican ascendancy, harding’s scandal laden presidency, etc.) than an actual biography. Not necessarily a criticism, but something to be aware of for someone who might be reading this strictly for the sports angle.
Dempsey’s days performing in vaudeville acts and smaller roles in Hollywood/serials after defeating Willard for championship
Dempsey (ex-wife) vs. Demspey (Jack) trial for Jack avoiding world war 1 draft, somewhat conflicted wife, jack Dempsey winning trial
Miscellaneous other fights of importance (French carpentier), gibbons in Shelby, Montana and bankrupting the banks/town of Shelby due to fight promotion/money
Ultimate defeat in two fights to tunney (one possibly cheated out of) and then retirement
December 23, 2013
This was a very interesting biography of the great boxer Jack Dempsey. Tough the author tries to help us see the background of other activity, he focuses strongly the racism that prevented certain boxers of color from getting a title shot against Dempsey and other fighters. While the book promises to be pretty much abouit the Roaring 20's, it only vaguely touches on the historical period outside of boxing and Hollywood, with a few anecdotes about politics, in particular, something of an expose on the presidency of Warren G. Harding.
The author interviewed the champ a number of times for various articles, etc. and sadly, his reporting is colored by his own personal opinion and hero worship of Dempsey. Dempsey is a guy who never really did any wrong in his eyes and is painted as a superhero boy scout of sorts. While this may be a fair description, the author's friendship with Dempsey takes away any real hard hitting research...
Still, a very good book with some good info about the period, but mostly showing how boxing became a great American sport.
The author interviewed the champ a number of times for various articles, etc. and sadly, his reporting is colored by his own personal opinion and hero worship of Dempsey. Dempsey is a guy who never really did any wrong in his eyes and is painted as a superhero boy scout of sorts. While this may be a fair description, the author's friendship with Dempsey takes away any real hard hitting research...
Still, a very good book with some good info about the period, but mostly showing how boxing became a great American sport.
November 24, 2020
El boxeo me plantea sentimientos enfrentados, por un lado el deporte en sí no me interesa especialmente, no sigo los combates ni a los luchadores y en general las peleas me aburren. Pero, por otra parte, las historias del boxeo y los boxeadores sí que me resultan interesantes, especialmente cuando se relacionan con otros acontecimientos históricos que despiertan mi interés y tal es el caso de este libro, publicado en el año 1999 y que sólo ahora ha caído en mis manos.
El libro traza un constante cambio de foco entre la historia personal y deportiva de Jack Dempsey, campeón del mundo de los pesos pesados entre 1919 y 1926, y la época que lo tocó vivir y, especialmente, el cambio en los deportes y el periodismo deportivo durante esos mismos años. Roger Kahn es, él mismo, un periodista deportivo (1927-), que además conoció personalmente a algunos de los implicados, incluso al campeón y enriquece el relato con sus propias anécdotas personales.
http://aventurasextraordinarias.blogs...
El libro traza un constante cambio de foco entre la historia personal y deportiva de Jack Dempsey, campeón del mundo de los pesos pesados entre 1919 y 1926, y la época que lo tocó vivir y, especialmente, el cambio en los deportes y el periodismo deportivo durante esos mismos años. Roger Kahn es, él mismo, un periodista deportivo (1927-), que además conoció personalmente a algunos de los implicados, incluso al campeón y enriquece el relato con sus propias anécdotas personales.
http://aventurasextraordinarias.blogs...
August 25, 2009
Sport provides an interesting window into history. In examining a culture’s perspective on sport and the athletes who make sport their business, the reader often gleans key insights into that culture’s values, passions, and wish-fulfillment fantasies. In A Flame of Pure Fire, Roger Kahn not only presents the definitive biography of Jack Dempsey (heavyweight champion of the world from 1919-1926, and arguably one of boxing’s ten all-time greatest), he paints a vibrant, detailed portrait of America in the years between World War I and the onset of the Great Depression. This is not just another boxing narrative: it’s a window into another time, and in writing this wonderful book, Kahn firmly ensconces himself not only in the pantheon of great boxing writers, but also among the ranks of the finest chroniclers of the early 20th century. One needn’t be a boxing fan to find this book fascinating and entertaining…it is simply that good.
July 8, 2014
This was a recco by comedian Bryan Callen on the Rogan podcast. Tells an entertaining tale of the rise of boxer Jack Dempsey and the Golden Age of Sports in the 1920s. Athletes back then seemed to have different career tracks then now. Willard, who Dempsey beat to become champ did not start boxing until he was 29 and fought Dempsey in his late 30s. John L Sullivan, the last heavy weight champ to do it bar knuckled, won his belt in a 75 round brawl in the Mississippi summer, but was also considered one of the pre-emininent whiskey drinkers of his day.
The real joy of Kahn's book is how Kahn met Dempsey as a young sports writer when Dempsey was an elderly restauranteur in Times Square. Thus I have a original source account of events from a man born in 1895 (Dempsey died in 1983).
The real joy of Kahn's book is how Kahn met Dempsey as a young sports writer when Dempsey was an elderly restauranteur in Times Square. Thus I have a original source account of events from a man born in 1895 (Dempsey died in 1983).
July 21, 2012
if you read Fight Ippo, you must be know this man , Jack dempsey !!
petinju tahun 20an, dengan gaya nya yang khas, baik tinju maupun rambutnya dia menjadi perhatian dunia pada masanya,
di buku ini Roger kahn bukan saja membahas perjalanan karir Jack dempsey tapi juga menariknya ke suasana dan sejarah kehidupan amerika pada masa itu.ketika negara sedang dilanda krisis yang berkepanjangan akibat Perang Dunia.tipe buku yang saya gemari
ilustrasi covernya maupun foto2 di dalemnya oke, klasik brow
ketika di medan seni muncul dadaisme di dunia tinju muncul jack dempsey
bagus dibaca sehabis lari 20 puteran sabuga,, yeach jab jab straight
petinju tahun 20an, dengan gaya nya yang khas, baik tinju maupun rambutnya dia menjadi perhatian dunia pada masanya,
di buku ini Roger kahn bukan saja membahas perjalanan karir Jack dempsey tapi juga menariknya ke suasana dan sejarah kehidupan amerika pada masa itu.ketika negara sedang dilanda krisis yang berkepanjangan akibat Perang Dunia.tipe buku yang saya gemari
ilustrasi covernya maupun foto2 di dalemnya oke, klasik brow
ketika di medan seni muncul dadaisme di dunia tinju muncul jack dempsey
bagus dibaca sehabis lari 20 puteran sabuga,, yeach jab jab straight
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews