Thanks to Mabel Publishing and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I'm a pro football fan and follow my team pretty closely, as well as have a basic understanding of the history of the NFL in general. I decided to request The Golden Age of Red because I love historical fiction as well as football and thought it would be a good combination.

One: even with non-fiction books about football, my eyes glaze over when doing a blow-by-blow description of games. Just not my thing. There's plenty of that in this book, so if that's not your jam, you've been warned.

Two: Red Grange's personal life was far more interesting than any heroics he had on the football field. It's clear the author did a lot of research into this book, because the author's notes at the end go over the major characters in the novel and revealed their fates following the end of the book.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, but it was a good read. The story just shows the impact the Galloping Ghost had on football as a sport, from college to the pros, that is felt today. But I didn't love the book. Perhaps it's because I'm a Green Bay Packers fan?

In the 1920’s, college football was much more popular than the professional game and one of the most prolific stars of that time was Harold “Red” Grange, also nicknamed “The Galloping Ghost.” This novel about Grange by Doug Villhard, based on actual events and people, is a story that is exciting, heartwarming, maddening and most of all, realistic. All at the same time, no less.

What makes the novel so realistic is that every character and nearly every event that takes place are based on real events and people. Not only Grange himself and his family members, but EVERYONE in the novel. That is made clear at the end when Villhard provides a listing of the characters and the highlights of their real lives. While I enjoyed the story a lot while reading it, seeing this at the end made me appreciate Villard's work even more.

This is especially true as he kept the story close to Grange’s actual life. From the famous game against Michigan in which he scored four touchdowns in 12 minutes to turning pro immediately after his final college game to the barnstorming games and injuries, Grange’s football career is covered well in the story.

His personal life and desires are also explained expertly in the novel and it is this part of the story that I believe makes this great novel. Grange’s desire to leave all the fame and attention behind a live something of a more “normal” life after college is a recurring theme through the story and while that never seems to come to fruition, how Grange addresses his fame and talent makes for great reading. As does his blossoming desire for Helen and his realization that football is his best talent.

Finally, as is explained in the synopsis of the book, there are events in this story that have far-reaching effects on football today, such as compensation for players in addition to tuition, room and board. One doesn’t have to be a football fan to enjoy this novel about the Galloping Ghost.

I wish to thank the publisher for providing a review copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

An era of athletics of which I knew little is brought to life in this excellent fictional account of the life and times of an American hero