Winner of the 2008 Premier Book Award for best biography


A Publishers Weekly Top Ten Sports Book of Spring 2012—

“One Olympic hero who made a mighty impact on American culture was Jack Kelly, father to Grace Kelly. Kelly was a gold medal winner in the Olympics and later a millionaire, and his life is recounted in Kelly: A Father, a Son, an American Quest by Daniel J. Boyne.”

“Daniel Boyne has provided a wonderful account of sports drama, family dynamics, and adventure, all in a beautifully written narrative that reads like a well-crafted novel. Kelly is a great tale of the nature of love and leadership during an era of international sports achievements and rivalries that we shall not see again.”

—John Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy

“In a time when rowing rivaled boxing and baseball in popularity, Jack Kelly (1889-1960) was its greatest champion. In this attractive illustrated biography, sports and society writer Boyne (The Red Rose Crew: A True Story of Women, Winning and the Water) chronicles Kelly's rise from modest beginnings as the son of Irish immigrants to Olympic gold.... [A] fine portrait of two Olympic champions [Kelly and his son] and their remarkable family, including Jack's daughter Grace, and theater stars Walter and George.”

     —Publishers Weekly