The Final Race: The Incredible World War II Story of the Olympian Who Inspired Chariots of Fire
About this ebook
On July 19, 1924, Eric Liddell was on top of the world. He was the most famous Briton at the time, having just won the gold in the Olympic 400-meter race. The story of that race―and the one he didn't run―was told in the popular movie classic Chariots of Fire.
But what most of us don't know is what became of Eric Liddell in the years after the credits rolled. As the storm clouds of World War II rolled in, Eric had already made decisions in his life that gave him the resilience to stand tall while others fell into despair. His strength of character led him to choose an uncertain future in China during World War II in order to continue helping the Chinese. He lived purposefully even as his world crumbled and he experienced the horror and deprivations of a Japanese internment camp.
Eric's story is a story of hope in the face of uncertainty, resilience in the face of unspeakable odds, and inspiring vision of what life means, even when the final hour comes.
The first race you run isn't your most important one. It's the final race that matters most.
You won't want to miss this story of an Olympian who chose the better way.
The book was awarded the Kirkus Star, which placed it in the Best Books of 2018 according to Kirkus Reviews.
Discover more
About the author
Eric Eichinger is an ordained minister in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He holds degrees from Michigan State University (BA), where he ran varsity track & field, and Concordia Seminary (MDiv). Prior to his pastoral call, he served with World Mission for two years in China. Some of his additional writing can be found in the GodConnects series, where he wrote with a team of writers for The Lutheran Hour. In 2006 he was ordained into the office of holy ministry in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod and currently serves as Sr. Pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church in Clearwater, Florida. Eric and Kara have three children and reside in the Tampa Bay area.
Eva Marie Everson is an award-winning, best-selling author of over 30 fiction and nonfiction titles, including Five Brides, The Road to Testament, The Cedar Key series, The Potluck Club series (with Linda Evans Shepherd), God Bless Us Every One, Reflections of God's Holy Land (with Miriam Feinberg Vamosh), and others. She is the president of Word Weavers International, the director of Florida Christian Writers Conference, and a member of a number of writers organizations. She and her husband make their home in Central Florida where they are owned by a small black doxie.
