2002*SIGNED 1st* The Escape Artist - Matt Seaton (Fourth Estate)
The Escape Artist: Life from the Saddle by Matt Seaton is a compelling memoir that delves into the author’s deep passion for amateur cycling and the personal transformations that ensued. Published by Fourth Estate, the book is available in two editions: a hardcover released in 2002 and a paperback edition published on June 2, 2003 .
In this narrative, Seaton recounts his dedication to cycling, detailing the rigorous training sessions, races across Europe, and the camaraderie found within the cycling community. However, as life progresses, he confronts significant personal challenges, including marriage, fatherhood, and the illness of his wife, Ruth Picardie. These experiences lead him to reevaluate his relationship with cycling and the role it plays in his life .
Critics have lauded the book for its honest and poignant portrayal of passion, loss, and personal growth. Jon Snow of The Guardian described it as “about the passion of life at the very edge of athletic and mechanical achievement that is eventually lost to love of a wife and children, which in turn gives way to the loss of the wife and mother herself” .
