This informal history of the 150 years of the Henley Royal Regatta examines individual episodes and characters from different periods and uses them as points of departure to unfold the story. The author looks at controversial issues which have divided the rowing world over the years, such as diet and health, rowing techniques, the structures of the boats, whether the events should be amateur or professional and whether foreign sportsmen should be allowed to compete. The book includes tales of invaders from America, Europe and Australia, including the Harvard crew of 1914 who returned in 1964, and the Russian boats which were strike-bound in 1956. For the statistically-minded there is a section of complete records. Christopher Dodd has also written The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.