# The First Ever English Olimpick Games

Canonical: https://www.bookquiver.com/celia-haddon/the-first-ever-english-olimpick-games

![The First Ever English Olimpick Games](https://quivercdn.com/covers/hodder-stoughton/celia-haddon/the-first-ever-english-olimpick-games_978-03-4086-283-4.jpg?v=2026-05-16%2014%3A10%3A25)

- Authors: [Celia Haddon](https://www.bookquiver.com/celia-haddon)
- Language: en_GB
- Published: 2005-08-15

## Description

Quirky and funny, while also being a serious account, this entertaining little paperback takes a historical event, THE FIRST EVER OLIMPICK GAMES, and looks at what it reveals about life in England in the seventeenth century: the history, monarchy, religion and politics. In a delightful manner, Celia Haddon tells the story of an incongruous mix: a Cotswold field and the Olympic Games and so brings history to life in a direct, readable and enjoyable way. The founder of the games, Robert Dover, was a lawyer and 'the Great Inventor and Champion of English Olimpicks'. He had the support of James l who had himself written about suitable, manly sport, partly in answer to the Puritans who thought all games led to sin and sex. From the start Dover's games were a political, as well as a sporting, statement. The Civil War put an end to the games. They were revived by Charles ll and continued into the 19th century when a Victorian Puritan vicar put an end to them on the grounds of licentious behaviour. Today they are still held - but as a shadow of their former glory.

## Editions

### The First Ever English Olimpick Games

- Publisher: hodder_stoughton
- ISBN: 978-03-4086-283-4
- Pages: 1
- Published: 2005-08-15
- Language: en_GB