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James B. (James Brendan) Connolly
1868–1957
An Olympic champion who turned real-world adventure into lively fiction and memoir, his work draws on the sea, travel, and the rough-and-ready energy of everyday life. He is also remembered as the first modern Olympic champion, a distinction that adds an unusual spark to his literary career.
7 Audiobooks
Sonnie-Boy's People
by James B. (James Brendan) Connolly
The U-boat hunters
by James B. (James Brendan) Connolly
The Trawler
by James B. (James Brendan) Connolly
The Seiners
by James B. (James Brendan) Connolly
The Deep Sea's Toll
by James B. (James Brendan) Connolly
Wide Courses
by James B. (James Brendan) Connolly
Running Free
by James B. (James Brendan) Connolly
About the author
Born in South Boston in 1868, he became a writer known for stories and novels shaped by maritime life, travel, and working-class experience. Before his literary career fully took hold, he made history by winning the triple jump at the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens, becoming the first champion of the modern Olympics.
He went on to publish fiction, memoir, and adventure writing, building a reputation for clear, energetic storytelling. His background as a sailor and traveler gave his work an authentic, lived-in feel that helped readers connect with the people and places he described.
He lived until 1957, leaving behind a career that bridges athletics and literature in a way few authors can match. For listeners, his writing offers both narrative drive and a strong sense of the world he knew firsthand.