Around the World on Two Wheels: Annie Londonderry's Extraordinary Ride

By Peter Zheutlin

Book Overview

For more than a century, the story of the audacious and charismatic Annie Kopchovsky and her attempt to circle the world by wheel has been lost to history. Who was this mysterious young woman on a bike? How did she manage, in the 1890s, to make a trip around the world by bicyle? What was she like? How did she free herself from the social constraints that surrounded women of the Victorian era to undertake such an adventure? And how did an anonymous working-class Jewish mother fromthe tenements of Boston's West End transform herself into an internationally renowned globe-trotter?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806528516
• ISBN13: 9780806528519
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Citadel Pr
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

a great tale well told

"Around the World on Two Wheels" is the fascinating and highly amusing tale of how Annie Kopchovsky, a Jewish immigrant and mother of three living in Boston in the 1890s, singlehandedly reinvented herself as "Annie Londonderry," the subject of a high stakes wager over whether it was possible for a woman to cycle around the world. While the wager and much of Annie's recollection of her journey is apocryphal, she did succeed in circling the globe, all the time spinning fantastic travel tales to willing and gullible newspapermen. Zheutlin has done a marvelous job in researching the tale of Annie, a distant relative, and also in separating the facts from the many fictions she put forward. He also puts Annie's groundbreaking journey in the proper historical/societal context. A great read that will appeal to a large cross section of readers.

One of the best biographies I've ever read!

An extraordinary story! Peter Zheutlin, a descendant of Annie Londonderry's brother, has researched and written her incredible adventure. With all her claims, her outrageous self-promotion, her character flaws, Annie Londonderry has emerged again as one of modern women's most outstanding pioneers and role models. Her story--and this book--is inspiring, fun, and memorable. It is a stiring tale of one woman's incredible adventure, a provocative and thoughtful example of women's suffrage, and a tale of the Old West rarely investigated today. It is not only a must read, but a must have.

My Next Book Club Selection!

This true story of Annie (Kopchovsky)Londonderry is an exhilarating and fascinating romp through history with a companion the reader can't help but admire for her gumption, cleverness, and determination. Annie was the first woman to ride her bicycle around the world, possibly as part of a contest. It's just as likely, however, that she fabricated an excuse to travel because she felt claustrophobic, trapped within the societal constraints placed on women during the Victorian era. The author, Peter Zheutlin, writes Annie's story with tenderness (he's a descendent of Annie's, but I suspect he would do so regardless), yet also with appropriate skepticism and rich historical detail. (Read the endnotes!) While following in the wake of her fierce independence and almost reckless energy, the reader also explores the impact Annie's journey had on the advancement of women's rights, as well as uncomfortable questions it posed about traditional roles - including her own role as wife and mother. I'm recommending "Around the World on Two Wheels" for my book club selection next month. We'll have plenty of issues to discuss, and we'll get to do so in the company of one incredibly memorable character -- Annie Londonderry.

A Ride You Don't Want to Miss

What was a tiny Jewish mother from Boston with two young children doing hopping on a bicycle, making a $5000 wager, and embarking on a remarkable journey around the world? In 1894!!! In this captivating story, you meet Annie Londonderry, arguably the world's first sports marketing expert, who created a persona and a story line that was beyond belief. The tale of her amazing journey--some real, some fantasy--is the stuff from which legends emerge. Zheutlin weaves a magical story here and he obviously has done his homework...lots of it. The richness of detail enhances the storytelling and makes Annie's world come alive. It is a must-read for those who want to be transported to another era and meet an unforgettable character. I can't wait for the movie!

WHAT A FUN, INTERESTING AND EDUCATIONAL BOOK. It has Insight, Fashion, Women's Liberation, 19th Cen

WHAT A FUN, INTERESTING AND EDUCATIONAL BOOK. It has Insight, Fashion, Women's Liberation, 19th Century Social History, Sports, Achievement, and so much more. The research Mr. Zheutlin did amazes me. On a personal note I research early cycling history and have done so for almost 40 years. His facts are accurate and he has found so much new material that it is hard to explain my amazement. If you are looking for a good read, interesting photographs, a different subject, amazing insight and a tour of the last part of the 19th Century, this is your book. You'll enjoy it!