In the class-obsessed and religiously divided UK of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell, a devout Christian born to Scottish missionaries in China, sees running as part of his worship of God's glory and refuses to train or compete on the Sabbath. Harold Abrahams overcomes anti-Semitism and class bias, but neglects his beloved sweetheart in his single-minded quest.

What happens to provincial journalists when there's nothing in the news and they have a paper to fill?

'Can you imagine, just try to imagine the numbers of good men who are going to be slaughtered this summer ...' Using a remarkable blend of dramatic techniques, this study of three English poets - who were also three courageous soldiers - gradually develops towards their historical and crucial meeting.