Jacksonville Public Library

Max Baer & the star of David, Jay Neugeboren

eng

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novels

Max Baer & the star of David

914866948

Jay Neugeboren

In 1933, boxer Max Baer defeated German heavyweight champion Max Schmeling. The year after, he wrested the world title from Primo Carnera. Baer wasn't champ for long, substituting nightclubs and women for the hard work of fight preparation, but during this time two competitors died as a result of the pounding he gave them. Baer died at 50, still near fighting shape. Baer was one-quarter Jewish: he wore the Star of David on his shorts for every bout from Schmelling forward. Neugeboren tell Baer's story up close but from the side: a fictitious companion, sometime lover Horace Littlejohn narrates this tale to his wife, Joleen, on his deathbed. But Horace has his own story to tell. He's black in a white world, and his wife is really his sister. Their son, Horace Jr., was sired by Max but raised by Horace and Joleen. Brought up on the poetic lyricism of King Solomon's Song of Songs, Horace recounts his story in a measured formal prose that belies the intensity of this narrative of deep but not untroubled love among three good people

Max Baer and the star of David