The legend of The Skating King has been one of the most enduring stories in figure skating history. Jackson Haines left America during the height of the Civil War and toured extensively through Europe. He translated ballet to the ice. He performed for Czars and Emperors. He inspired the formation of many of the world's oldest skating clubs. He changed the world's most exciting winter sport forever and our fascination in him has never waned. In this meticulously researched biography, figure skating historian Ryan Stevens chronicles Jackson's story from his humble beginnings in New York to his premature death in Finland in 1875 - both on and off the ice. Through extensive research in 19th century archives and unpublished material housed at the K.H. Renlunds Museum and World Figure Skating Museum, Stevens proves that fact can be far more intriguing than fiction.