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The Willow Wand Derek Birley

The Willow Wand By Derek Birley

The Willow Wand by Derek Birley


3,70 £
New RRP 6,95 £
Condition - Like New
Only 1 left

Summary

This book explores the roots of cricket's powerful mythology and romantic literature which lie deep in the past and explores its values which refelct a vanished age - the heyday of late Victorian and Edwardian splendour when golden amateurs consolidated the Empire and withstood the Kaiser.

The Willow Wand Summary

The Willow Wand by Derek Birley

Cricket has always been "more than a game" - to some it has seemed like an ethical religion, a training for war, or a high art form; always, though, it has been the quintessentially English sport. The roots of its powerful mythology and romantic literature lie deep in the past, and its values reflect a vanished age - the glorious heyday of late Victorian and Edwardian splendour when golden amateurs consolidated the Empire and withstood the Kaiser. "The Willow Wand" explores in spirited fashion the gap between myth and reality. It looks at amateurism in which the gentlemen were paid more than the players; a folk-hero, W.G.Grace, who was 'too clever to cheat'; the virility cult; the ruthless D.R.Jardine putting down the colonial upstart Bradman; the autocrats of MCC; Lord Harris rooting out Bolshevism at home and building up cricket in India; Sir Pelham Warner upholding the high moral code; Sir Neville Cardus bestowing intellectual respectability on a feudal dream; and - in more recent times - riots in the West Indies, the D'Oliveira affair, and the advent of Kerry Packer.

Additional information

GOR013530631
9780671699727
0671699725
The Willow Wand by Derek Birley
Used - Like New
Paperback
Simon & Schuster Ltd
1989-03-13
220
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
The book has been read, but looks new. The book cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket is included if applicable. No missing or damaged pages, no tears, possible very minimal creasing, no underlining or highlighting of text, and no writing in the margins

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