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Chargement... A Social History of English Cricket (1999)par Derek Birley
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My vague apologies for recommending a second cricket book this season; I understand that many find the game unnecessarily bewildering. But this really is extraordinarily good, and though the standard thing to say here is "it's more than just a cricket book", in this case it happens to be true, or even truer than usual... Prix et récompenses
Références à cette œuvre sur des ressources externes. Wikipédia en anglais (187)Acclaimed as a magisterial, classic work, A Social History of English Cricket is an encyclopaedic survey of the game, from its humble origins all the way to modern floodlit finishes. But it is also the story of English culture, mirrored in a sport that has always been a complex repository of our manners, hierarchies and politics. Derek Birley's survey of the impact on cricket of two world wars, Empire and 'the English caste system', will, contends Ian Wooldridge, 'teach an intelligent child of twelve more about their heritage than he or she will ever pick up at school.' In just under 400 pages Birley takes us through a rich historical tapestry: how the game was snatched from rustic obscurity by gentlemanly gamblers; became the height of late eighteenth century metropolitan fashion; was turned into both symbol and synonym for British imperialism; and its more recent struggle to dislodge the discomforting social values preserved in the game from its imperial heyday. Superbly witty and humorous, peopled by larger-than-life characters from Denis Compton to Ian Botham, and wholly forswearing nostalgia, A Social History of English Cricket is a tour-de-force by one of the great writers on cricket. Aucune description trouvée dans une bibliothèque |
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Google Books — Chargement... GenresClassification décimale de Melvil (CDD)796.3580942The arts Recreational and performing arts Athletic and outdoor sports and games Ball sports Ball and stick sports Cricket Biography And HistoryClassification de la Bibliothèque du CongrèsÉvaluationMoyenne:
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The "social" aspect of "A social history of English cricket" is what makes this stand out from the many other books on cricket history. Birley also has a wry sense of humour and makes a very welcome change to the very dry, stilted prose of many other cricket books; thankfully Birley does not engage in the school of "here is an extremely minor factoid that I am including purely to show that I have done loads of research".
The book goes into detail on all the key moments in cricket English cricket history, from ruminating on where and when cricket developed from, to its development through to the Hambledon Cricket Club and thence to Marylebone Cricket Club, with specific detail on the important role of gambling on the development of cricket. All the usual suspects get a mention; WG Grace and his brothers, Lords Harris and Hawke, Prince Ranjitsinhji and some lesser lights.
I've also heard good things about Birley's other cricket book, "The Willow Wand" and if I ever manage to track down a copy I will report on its contents here. ( )