Men of Kent

Men of Kent is, first and foremost, an archetypical sports tale—a story of the improbable happening to the unlikely, unfolding against the backdrop of a turbulent era. Both an homage and a unique inside look at the fast-growing sport of rowing, it embraces the sport's history, traditions, and culture as it tells the story of ten ordinary boys and their coach from Kent , Connecticut , who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances during the spring and summer of 1972.

The Kent School 's 1972 crew, of which the author was a part, had a 46-0 winning streak, broke three course records, and claimed a national championship. In its final race, at the fabled Henley Royal Regatta in England —a race broadcast on television worldwide—it barely edged the Canadian National Champions. Kent's achievement merited a banner headline in the New York Times sports section, and is regarded as one of the most breathtaking finishes in Henley 's long history.