Although Owens and the German Chancellor never talked, Owens claimed that Hitler greeted him with an enthusiastic wave. In fact the man in question was President Roosevelt, who worried that paying attention to Owens' triumphs might be a vote loser. Popular belief would have it that the leader was Hitler, who is said to have stormed off, furious to see a black man beating European athletes. 'In 1936, in the wake of winning a clutch of gold medals at the Berlin Olympics, the great athlete Jesse Owens was snubbed by an imperious leader, on racial grounds. 'Witty, light and packed with information - The Sunday Herald ' - Dominic Kennerk, Waterstones's Product Planning and Promotions Co-ordinator (From the Waterstones's 'We Recommend' list for 2008)' A marvellous 'little window on human history. Where else could you get concise enlightening accounts of Henry VIII wrestling with Francis I, Geronimo surrendering to General Miles, Ernest Hemingway presenting Fidel Castro with a fishing trophy or (as seen on the books cover) a baby-faced Bill Clinton shaking hands with John F Kennedy. 'Edwin Moore's quirky collection of a hundred encounters between (mostly) important historical figures is a gem of a book. Indeed Waterstones was sure it would do well and placed it on their 'We Recommend' list for 2008. Sales and Marketing were sure it would do well. My Brief Encounters was published by Chambers in 2007 with great expectations.