Kubik's thoughts about writing the book:
Even if you dial back 90% of Kubik's intensity in his representation of Hoffman's importance to barbell lifting in general and Olympic weightlifting in particular, you are left with a figure of unparalleled importance to the American Iron Game. Kubik's portrayal of Hoffman's dedication to John Davis in pre-civil rights/segregated America is one of the best sections of the book. Maybe the color barrier wasn't broken, but at least it was seriously dented by Hoffman's (and Sig Klein's) color blind sportsmanship on John Davis' behalf.In writing Legacy of Iron, I worked hard to capture the personalities of the different champs of the era, using all of the written and oral history gained over the years. Whenever possible, I used contemporaneous accounts of lifting contests to "set the scene." Sometimes I described things that you could only learn from old photos of contests back in the 1938-1940 period. Bob Hoffman's books, and articles by Hoffman, Harry Paschall and others, provided much useful information.
For what it is, this is a very fine book. If you are interested in the history of the iron game at all it is a must read. The plot is a little corny but it is charming nonetheless. After it is all said and done, Kubik's best character study may be of Gracie Hoffman, Bob Hoffman's wife...you don't have a pulse if you don't wish you could somehow have known her.
