Again to Carthage: A Novel

by John L Parker

Again to Carthage is the "breathtaking, pulse-quickening, stunning" sequel to Once a Runner that "will have you standing up and cheering, and pulling on your running shoes" ( Chicago Sun-Times ). Originally self-published in 1978, Once a Runner became a cult classic, emerging after three decades to become a New York Times bestseller. Now, in Again to Carthage, hero Quenton Cassidy returns. The former Olympian has become a successful attorney in south Florida, where his life centers on work, friends, skin diving, and boating trips to the Bahamas. But when he loses his best friend to the Vietnam War and two relatives to life’s vicissitudes, Cassidy realizes that an important part of his life was left unfinished. After reconnecting with his friend and former coach Bruce Denton, Cassidy returns to the world of competitive running in a desperate, all-out attempt to make one last Olympic team. Perfectly capturing the intensity, relentlessness, and occasional lunacy of a serious runner’s life, Again to Carthage is a must-read for runners—and athletes—of all ages, and a novel that will thrill any lover of fiction.

384 pages, Paperback

Published September 28, 2010

Reviews

[Ethan Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started off a lot slower than Once A Runner, which makes sense in terms of plot development. It was admittedly hard to get through the first hundred or so pages, but once Quenton reignites his dream, the pages flew. There were some absolutely wild, nearly unbelievable obstacles in this book, which keeps the reader on the edge of his seat, knowing that any outcome could happen, and understandably so. I’ll miss reading these books.

[Caleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sequel is a brilliant piece of literature whose style is as breezy as Cassidy’s stride. John L. Parker captures the reality of running in beautiful prose, and (true to the cover) “could make a runner out of a couch potato.” His first book, Once a Runner, is still one of my favorites, but this is a worthy sequel that gives us even more rich glimpses of a relatable character.

[Ben Hamblin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy sequel. Bit slow to get started but really gets going come the end.

[Nate Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ran in HS/college you like OAR more. If you ran as an adult you like this more.