For the Glory

Most people will know Eric Liddell as an Olympic gold medalist and a focal character in Chariots of Fire. Famously, the Scot would not run on Sunday, leading to ridicule and, some might say, his teammate winning the 100 metres in the 1924 Paris Olympics. But for Liddell, running was always second to his true calling, his faith. After surprisingly winning the 400-metre gold in Paris, he dedicated himself to missionary work. He and his family settled in one of the poorest provinces in China. When he saw war with Japan on the horizon, Liddell put his children and pregnant wife on a boat to Canada, while he stayed behind, his conscience compelling him to remain amongst the desperate Chinese. Liddell was eventually interned at a Japanese work camp, where he became the moral centre of an unbearable world. He was the hardest worker, he counselled many of the other prisoners, he often gave up his own meagre portion of meals, and he organized games for the children. He even raced again. But for his ailing, malnourished body, it soon proved too much. In the spirit of The Boys in the Boat and Unbroken, For the Glory is both a compelling narrative of athletic heroism and a gripping story of faith in the darkest circumstances.