

Champion of the World
Author: Chad Dundas
Narrator: Kevin Kenerly
Unabridged: 13 hr 43 min
Format: Digital Audiobook Download
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Published: 07/12/2016
Categories: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Sports, Literary Fiction
Author: Chad Dundas
Narrator: Kevin Kenerly
Unabridged: 13 hr 43 min
Format: Digital Audiobook Download
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Published: 07/12/2016
Categories: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Sports, Literary Fiction
Chad Dundas earned his MFA from the University of Montana, and his short fiction has appeared in the Beloit Fiction Journal, Sycamore Review, Sou’wester, and Thuglit. Since 2001 he has worked as a sportswriter for national outlets including ESPN, NBC Sports, Sporting News, Bleacher Report, and the Associated Press, as well as for local and regional newspapers. A fourth-generation Montanan, he lives with his family in Missoula.
Kevin Kenerly, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, earned a BA at Olivet College. A longtime member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, he has acted in more than twenty seasons, playing dozens of roles.
I see less and less novels these days written in the third person POV and in linear order; in fact, I now relish the contemporary books with original construction. However, Dundas’s debut novel is a classic testament to the omniscient point-of-view novel with a direct, successive storyline. It adds......more
Champion of the World invites its readers to navigate the world of gangsters, bootlegging and fixed wresting competition in the 1920s. None of these topics particularly appeal. Yet here I am, saying: Read it. Read it anyway. Read it because this is a page-turning narrative that is tragic, hopeful and......more
A Good Story—just not for me Imagine you're going to a movie (in the dark ages before multiplexes). The show you want is not on, so you try the one that has replaced it. Immediately, you know it is good—colorful, strong characters, well directed, lots of action. Clearly, it is a box-office hit. But i......more
I really loved the entire book! I hadn't finished a book in a while and failed really getting through some other books. This one by Chad Dundas, mma journalist and podcast extraordinaire, is a great piece of sports fiction. Hit the right sport at exactly the right time. Thanks Dundas!......more
Those who know me know my penchant for wrestling. There's something I find absolutely fascinating about the manner in which combat is used as a pretext to tell a story of contrasting personalities clashing inside the squared circle. So when I read the plot description for CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, by j......more
“A brilliant novel about life—and sport—at the cusp of the modern age.” Philipp Meyer, New York Times bestselling author
“A riveting novel about hardheaded men, tough women, and even tougher times in Prohibition America…[with] page-turning momentum and thrilling set pieces.” O, The Oprah Magazine
“A well written, engaging tale that reads like a beautiful grappling match between experienced and well-trained athletes…Keeps the reader entranced and curious throughout.” Missoulian
“For its unique content, vivid storytelling, and noteworthy attention to detail, we award Champion of the World five out of five suplexes.” Pro Wrestling Illustrated
“Great storytelling and dynamic characters… [Dundas] writes exciting action sequences. But his real gift is in making 1920s America and the people who populate it come vibrantly alive.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“Kevin Kenerly narrates Dundas’ stunning debut novel superbly, bringing to life a story that engages the listener from its opening moments to its conclusion…His performance complements Dundas’ memorable narrative and dialogue. While many listeners will relish the vivid training scenes, others will enjoy exploring the seedy underworld of professional wrestling, reveling in Kenerly’s performance. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.” AudioFile
“Dundas puts together a tightly woven piece of storytelling punctuated by some intriguing close-ups of wrestling when it was taken seriously.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Rambunctious, page-turning…Dundas draws evocatively on the rich history of boxing in fiction and film…but layers the familiar archetypes with the fascinating history of ‘scientific wrestling.’” Booklist