Cricket Books

[archie mac]

Originally Posted by armchairumpire

Archie

I'm currently rereading The Art of Captaincy by Mike Brearley. Is this too old for a review? IMO one of the classics.

No that would be great, I reviewed a book from 1898

[Stefano]

Before "More than a Game", I read "Bodyline Autopsy" by David Frith. I am really interested in the history of the game. Which books would you suggest that I should read?

[archie mac]

Originally Posted by Stefano

Before "More than a Game", I read "Bodyline Autopsy" by David Frith. I am really interested in the history of the game. Which books would you suggest that I should read?

Not sure what you are into tbh

Try these:

England V Australian 1877-(lots of editions) by David Frith (history of the Ashes)

The Glory Days of Cricket -Ashley Mote (early days of cricket, Hambleton

Alfred Mynn & Cricketers of His Time - Morrah, Patrick

The Summer Game - Haigh, Gideon

[Stefano]

Hey Archie.

I have just checked some information about the books you have suggested me. All of them seem to be very interested. I think I will buy "Alfred Mynn & Cricketers of His Time". Thank you very much.

Then, I would like to read something about WG Grace and about cricket in Pakistan. Any advice?

[archie mac]

Originally Posted by Stefano

Hey Archie.

I have just checked some information about the books you have suggested me. All of them seem to be very interested. I think I will buy "Alfred Mynn & Cricketers of His Time". Thank you very much.

Then, I would like to read something about WG Grace and about cricket in Pakistan. Any advice?

There have been a couple of fairly recent bios of WG, I enjoyed both very much

Low, Robert _ W.G.

Rae, Simon _ W.G. Grace A Life

I don't know a great deal about Pakistan cricket books tbh

[Fiery]

Originally Posted by archie mac

There have been a couple of fairly recent bios of WG, I enjoyed both very much

Low, Robert _ W.G.

Rae, Simon _ W.G. Grace A Life

I don't know a great deal about Pakistan cricket books tbh

Have you read "Christmas In Rarotonga" by John Wright, archie?

[archie mac]

Originally Posted by Fiery

Have you read "Christmas In Rarotonga" by John Wright, archie?

No I have not, but I heard it was well worth a read, what would you give it out of 5?

[pasag]

Originally Posted by armchairumpire

Archie

I'm currently rereading The Art of Captaincy by Mike Brearley. Is this too old for a review? IMO one of the classics.

Been looking out for that one for a while, can't seem to find it anywhere.

Anyways, read Bradman's bio by Roland Perry, enjoyed it heaps. Definitely recommend it.

[neville cardus]

Originally Posted by archie mac

The Glory Days of Cricket -Ashley Mote (early days of cricket, Hambleton

Superb volume.

[neville cardus]

Originally Posted by archie mac

There have been a couple of fairly recent bios of WG, I enjoyed both very much

Low, Robert _ W.G.

Rae, Simon _ W.G. Grace A Life

I don't know a great deal about Pakistan cricket books tbh

Although Low's prose is far more sensitive, endearing me a lot more to the subject, I have to say that I prefer Rae's (although, admittedly, I'm not that far into it). I'm a shameless nerd, you understand, so the detailed completeness of Simon's work really appeals to me.

[neville cardus]

Originally Posted by pasag

Been looking out for that one for a while, can't seem to find it anywhere.

There was a reprint in 2001, I believe.

Originally Posted by pasag

Anyways, read Bradman's bio by Roland Perry, enjoyed it heaps. Definitely recommend it.

I don't. It bored me to death. It's little more than a monotonous and ill-researched reconstruction of matches to my mind.

[archie mac]

Originally Posted by neville cardus

Although Low's prose is far more sensitive, endearing me a lot more to the subject, I have to say that I prefer Rae's (although, admittedly, I'm not that far into it). I'm a shameless nerd, you understand, so the detailed completeness of Simon's work really appeals to me.

I also read the Low one first, and can't recall learning anymore from the Rae book, except some more detail on the youngest Grace GF, which was very interesting

The Rae one did win cricket book of the year though

[neville cardus]

Originally Posted by archie mac

I also read the Low one first, and can't recall learning anymore from the Rae book, except some more detail on the youngest Grace GF, which was very interesting

The Rae one did win cricket book of the year though

Detail-wise, Archie, Rae's book is streets ahead in every respect. Look up something in Low's, and you'll generally get about half of what you'd pick up from Rae's. What stands out most for me in the latter is the account of Grace's early days, placing them in their historical context and busting a few embroidered myths. There can't have been a more thorough Grace biography than Simon Rae's, and I can't imagine there being too many more.

[archie mac]

Originally Posted by neville cardus

Detail-wise, Archie, Rae's book is streets ahead in every respect. Look up something in Low's, and you'll generally get about half of what you'd pick up from Rae's. What stands out most for me is the latter's account of Grace's early days, placing them in historical context and busting a few embroidered myths. There can't have been a more thorough Grace biography than this, and I can't imagine there being too many more now.

True, but I already new alot about 'The Grand Old Man' so did not learn any new stuff from the Rae book. They both uncovered the assault Grace made on a teenage boy, and was later covered up.

But Yes you can't see anyone doing a better job than Rae

[neville cardus]

Well, I haven't quite got that far yet -- I'm still in 1865 --, but I couldn't resist a spot of speed-reading which took me through the parts that mattered. I'm tackling the book in earnest now and enjoying it thoroughly.

I'm surprised that you didn't learn anything new from it; I didn't know, for example, about the court case in which Grace's paternal grandfather was enmeshed, albeit posthumously -- I think.