King Leary was the winner of the 2008 Canada Reads contest as the best book in all of Canada, successfully championed by none other than Dave Bidini. Here's the official spin:
Percival Leary was once the King of the Ice, one of hockey’s greatest heroes. Now, in the South Grouse Nursing Home, where he shares a room with Edmund “Blue” Hermann, the antagonistic and alcoholic reporter who once chronicled his career, Leary looks back on his tumultuous life and times: his days at the boys’ reformatory when he burned down a house; the four mad monks who first taught him to play hockey; and the time he executed the perfect “St. Louis Whirlygig” to score the winning goal in the 1919 Stanley Cup final.
Now all but forgotten, Leary is only a legend in his own mind until a high-powered advertising agency decides to feature him in a series of ginger ale commercials. With his male nurse, his son, and the irrepressible Blue, Leary sets off for Toronto on one last adventure as he revisits the scenes of his glorious life as King of the Ice.
Here are the links to the 20-part audio podcast:
King Leary episode twenty 18-02-09
A shocking gift is left in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Right click to Download King Leary episode twenty 18-02-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:31]
King Leary episode nineteen 17-02-09
The hot lights of the television commercial bring everything to a head.
Right click to Download King Leary episode nineteen 17-02-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:44]
King Leary episode eighteen 16-02-09
A ghost visits Percival Leary.
Right click to Download King Leary episode eighteen 16-02-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:17]
King Leary episode seventeen 15-02-09
Leary must face the truth about both his sons.
Right click to Download King Leary episode seventeen 15-02-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:27]
King Leary episode sixteen 14-02-09
Leary is challenged as King of the Ice.
Right click to Download King Leary episode sixteen 14-02-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:39]
King Leary episode fifteen 10-02-09
Their friendship changes when Clay is named manager of the hockey team Leary plays on.
Right click to Download King Leary episode fifteen 10-02-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:21]
King Leary episode fourteen 09-02-09
Leary is celebrated at a special hockey night in Maple Leaf Gardens.
Right click to Download King Leary episode fourteen 09-02-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:29]
King Leary episode thirteen 08-02-09
How Leary picked up his Indian nickname.
Right click to Download King Leary episode thirteen 08-02-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:32]
King Leary episode twelve 03-02-09
Blue reminds Leary that not all his accomplishments were honorable.
Right click to Download King Leary episode twelve 03-02-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:32]
King Leary episode eleven 02-02-09
Leary continues both his quest for the crown and his delusions.
Right click to Download King Leary episode eleven 02-02-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:22]
King Leary episode ten 01-02-09
Past and present start to merge as Leary takes the train to the big city.
Right click to Download King Leary episode ten 01-02-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:22]
King Leary episode nine 27-01-09
We meet the love of Manny's life.
Right click to Download King Leary episode nine 27-01-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:23]
King Leary episode eight 26-01-09
Manny Oz and Leary return from war.
Right click to Download King Leary episode eight 26-01-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:11]
King Leary episode seven 25-01-09
War comes to Little Leary and the Bowmanville Boys Reformatory in KING LEARY.
Right click to Download King Leary episode seven 25-01-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:43]
King Leary episode six 20-01-09
Leary discovers he has a challenger as best player on the ice.
Right click to Download King Leary episode six 20-01-09
[mp3 file: runs 15:52]
King Leary episode five 19-01-09
To keep a boy out of hot water - put him on ice. So begins Percival Leary's training as a future hockey great.
Right click to Download King Leary episode five 19-01-09
[mp3 file: runs 16:44]
King Leary episode four 18-01-09
There's big trouble for Little Leary on Between The Covers this week
Right click to Download King Leary episode four 18-01-09
[mp3 file: runs 16:44]
King Leary episode three 13-01-09
Leary doesn't understand why others don't remember his hockey career the same way he does.
Right click to Download King Leary episode three 13-01-09
[mp3 file: runs 17:02]
King Leary episode two 12-01-09
An aging hockey star is given the opportunity to relive past glory.
Right click to Download King Leary episode two 12-01-09
[mp3 file: runs 17:00]
King Leary episode one 11-01-09
Starting today we present a reading of last year's CANADA READS winner- King Leary by Paul Quarrington.
Right click to Download King Leary episode one 11-01-09
[mp3 file: runs 17:01]
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