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Blood Over Water
On a blustery, overcast April day in 2003, David and James Livingston raced against each other in the 149th Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, watched by over seven million people. It was the first time brothers had battled each other in this gladiatorial and quintessentially British tradition for over a hundred years. Only one could be victorious. In this book, David and James tell their stories for the first time, giving an intimate insight into one of our least understood but best-loved national sporting occasions. James, following in his family€™s footsteps, is a student at St Catharine€™s College, Cambridge, while David, wanting to escape his brother's shadow, joins Christ Church College at Oxford University. As the pair embark on training loads almost beyond endurance, their stories reveal the rivalries between these ancient and great institutions. Told in alternating narratives, Blood over Water is an emotional and searching joint self-portrait,
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 2, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 16, 2012
These two brothers provide a perfect look inside the psyche of oarsmen through a wildly exciting year in The Boat Race. I found myself smiling, laughing, heart rate rising, and even near tears as their various emotions as competitors and brothers. It is fascinating to read the paired reactions to such gut-wrenching final result, having only experienced one side of that drama in such a final manner. I also found the prologue and reflections immensely helpful as they discussed how they adjusted to life without rowing as the center of their being, one with which I at times still struggle. Perhaps the best part of this book is that I couldn't choose a brother to root for over the other.
September 30, 2025
Good story of dueling brothers in rowing between Oxford and Cambridge. Incredible sacrifice for the teams
March 28, 2018
I loved every page of this book. It was incredible to read what goes into the Oxford vs. Cambridge rowing race. They train twice a day for months on end for one 18 minute race. Add to that the intrigue of two brothers rowing against each other and you have the makings of a fascinating book. I won't say which brother wins, but I will say that the finish is incredible and it must be watched on YouTube after finishing the book. It is generally considered to be the best finish in the history of The Boat Race and this book gives you a front row seat for the entire race.
February 7, 2025
This book has been an extremely pleasant surprise. Not only allow you to live the insides of one of the more antiques, well renowned and hard sport event in the world, also give you an important lesson about the importance of family and friendship.
August 8, 2020
Had my heart racing!
August 29, 2024
Fascinating story about a sport I knew nothing about but by the end I was fully immersed in the culture of rowing. What a totally engrossing and tense story which was sad at times but a great read.
January 16, 2011
If there are any athletes that work harder than the Oxford/Cambridge competitors, please let me know. Their culture, developed over more than 150 years, requires more self-punishment than any I've heard about since the Spartans. I imagine the Spartans would be left in their wake in many of their fitness tests.
This is the third book this year I've read about the culture of rowing and by far the best. The one about Harvard covered the training regime well and gave some idea of the culture of winning and sacrifice. The other was about the Boat Race (if you have to ask, "What Boat Race?", this is like asking "What World Series?" in England). It was gossipy and shallow, although it did delve more into the non-rowing part of the culture which involves far more self-abuse involving alcohol than I can stomach (so to speak). It is a miracle to me that alcohol poisoning is not a leading cause of death among collegiate rowers.
This book is by and about the two Livingston brothers who ended up rowing against each other in the 2003 Boat Race. David, the younger, rowed for Oxford and this brother James rowed for Cambridge. Oxford was the underdog and eventually won by the very slightest of margins. David has a serious chip on his shoulder about living in his brother's shadow. He uses the intense (even sick) rivalry between the two clubs to intensify this rivalry and even comes to imagine hating his brother.
The book is written with the brothers writing alternately about what is happening in their lives during the year leading up to the race. Usually they are at their respective universities, but sometimes they are in their family's home, eating at separate tables with their teammates. This seems to me to be a very sick way to torture your parents.
The last few pages describing the race are very compelling. I had no idea that coxes would endanger their crews with collisions in these paper-thin shells, but it seems that intimidation and physical contact are pretty much like horse racing. Theoretically, it is a non-contact sport, but in the Race, all bets are off. I question why they have referees. The referees have adequate cause to disqualify, but don't, and the coxes know it, so it becomes a contact sport. If I understand it correctly, the oarsman are sometimes trying to knock the oars out of their competitor's hands.
Tidbits you may want to know: the toughest, oldest club on the Thames wears pink. Coxes fall asleep and shells crash at this level of competition. Crashes occur at the least expected and most disastrous times, even during practice.
What I'd still like to know: How are these campaigns financed? Hundreds of thousands spent on equipment, at least two full-time coaches for each camp, boatmen, training camps in at least four locations, travel expenses for up to fifty athletes on each team, and enough food to feed an army. Excepting salaries, on a per capita basis, I think they probably outspend a professional football (not futbol) team. Where does this money come from?
I read this in a couple of days. If you are a rowing fan, don't plan on getting anything done until you've finished reading the book.
This is the third book this year I've read about the culture of rowing and by far the best. The one about Harvard covered the training regime well and gave some idea of the culture of winning and sacrifice. The other was about the Boat Race (if you have to ask, "What Boat Race?", this is like asking "What World Series?" in England). It was gossipy and shallow, although it did delve more into the non-rowing part of the culture which involves far more self-abuse involving alcohol than I can stomach (so to speak). It is a miracle to me that alcohol poisoning is not a leading cause of death among collegiate rowers.
This book is by and about the two Livingston brothers who ended up rowing against each other in the 2003 Boat Race. David, the younger, rowed for Oxford and this brother James rowed for Cambridge. Oxford was the underdog and eventually won by the very slightest of margins. David has a serious chip on his shoulder about living in his brother's shadow. He uses the intense (even sick) rivalry between the two clubs to intensify this rivalry and even comes to imagine hating his brother.
The book is written with the brothers writing alternately about what is happening in their lives during the year leading up to the race. Usually they are at their respective universities, but sometimes they are in their family's home, eating at separate tables with their teammates. This seems to me to be a very sick way to torture your parents.
The last few pages describing the race are very compelling. I had no idea that coxes would endanger their crews with collisions in these paper-thin shells, but it seems that intimidation and physical contact are pretty much like horse racing. Theoretically, it is a non-contact sport, but in the Race, all bets are off. I question why they have referees. The referees have adequate cause to disqualify, but don't, and the coxes know it, so it becomes a contact sport. If I understand it correctly, the oarsman are sometimes trying to knock the oars out of their competitor's hands.
Tidbits you may want to know: the toughest, oldest club on the Thames wears pink. Coxes fall asleep and shells crash at this level of competition. Crashes occur at the least expected and most disastrous times, even during practice.
What I'd still like to know: How are these campaigns financed? Hundreds of thousands spent on equipment, at least two full-time coaches for each camp, boatmen, training camps in at least four locations, travel expenses for up to fifty athletes on each team, and enough food to feed an army. Excepting salaries, on a per capita basis, I think they probably outspend a professional football (not futbol) team. Where does this money come from?
I read this in a couple of days. If you are a rowing fan, don't plan on getting anything done until you've finished reading the book.
November 30, 2019
If you like sports books, first – go read “Boys in the Boat” and then once you’re a proper rowing fan, read “Blood Over Water”. While in London I decided I wanted to learn how to row and took two series of lessons which was 1) very challenging and 2) incredibly fun. It gave me an even deeper appreciation for the sport and what devastation the Livingston brothers must have gone through. This book has the best aspects of a sports book: a huge event, a team of interesting characters and unexpected odds.
The brothers do a great job alternating perspectives and being honest in their opinions and thoughts about each other, even when they weren’t the most charitable. I can’t image what it would have been like for their parents to be in the middle of the situation. And a fair question “Will I still enjoy this if I’m not a rowing fan?” Yes, I think this book is written for anyone who enjoys sports books, but if you’re completely new to the sport I’d recommend “Boys in the Boat” first.
Who should read it? Sports fans who are interested in a compelling and psychological challenge.
See all my reviews and more at Reading to Distraction or @Read2Distract
The brothers do a great job alternating perspectives and being honest in their opinions and thoughts about each other, even when they weren’t the most charitable. I can’t image what it would have been like for their parents to be in the middle of the situation. And a fair question “Will I still enjoy this if I’m not a rowing fan?” Yes, I think this book is written for anyone who enjoys sports books, but if you’re completely new to the sport I’d recommend “Boys in the Boat” first.
Who should read it? Sports fans who are interested in a compelling and psychological challenge.
See all my reviews and more at Reading to Distraction or @Read2Distract
August 13, 2012
I started this book, hoping I'd pick up a few details about the Cambridge/Oxford rowing culture for a novel that I'm writing, and ended up glued to it in my every spare moment. It's not only a fascinating look into the brutal training that these crews undergo (all for about 16 minutes at the Boat Race), but the kind of intense bonds it forges among crewmembers, to the point that dying seems preferable to letting down a fellow oarsman in a race.
Equally engrossing, and quite sad, was the extreme picture of sibling rivalry between David and James. By the end, they could barely speak to each other and viewed one another as an enemy. It left me wondering if the glory of winning could possibly be worth the sacrifices to life and relationships these rowers make.
For how well these guys hold up under the pressure of the boiler-cooker atmosphere of the Oxbridge boat clubs, you tend to forget how very young they all are until you look at the pictures inserted into the center of the book. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in rowing or sports biographies. Tense and amazing.
Equally engrossing, and quite sad, was the extreme picture of sibling rivalry between David and James. By the end, they could barely speak to each other and viewed one another as an enemy. It left me wondering if the glory of winning could possibly be worth the sacrifices to life and relationships these rowers make.
For how well these guys hold up under the pressure of the boiler-cooker atmosphere of the Oxbridge boat clubs, you tend to forget how very young they all are until you look at the pictures inserted into the center of the book. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in rowing or sports biographies. Tense and amazing.
October 31, 2010
First and foremost, this is a book that chronicles the events leading up to the Boat Race in 2003. The oldest and most popular of all other boat races, the Cambridge Oxford Boat Race is epic in the rowing world. David and James Livingston became the 1st set of brothers to row against each other in 99 years in the Boat Race.
I had read reviews that said this was an outstanding book, even if you weren't a rowing fan. I found their stories to be inspirational and quite interesting.
So if you have ever questioned if you are a light blue or a dark blue, this book is for you! And what's not to love about oarsmen in wellies...
I had read reviews that said this was an outstanding book, even if you weren't a rowing fan. I found their stories to be inspirational and quite interesting.
So if you have ever questioned if you are a light blue or a dark blue, this book is for you! And what's not to love about oarsmen in wellies...
May 11, 2009
A thrill. Exhausting read.
June 29, 2016
Alles over roeien staat erin.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews