A People's History of Tennis by David Berry

A People's History of Tennis by David Berry

***Longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2020*** ***Financial Times, Best Sports Books of 2020*** Pristine lawns, tennis whites, strawberries and cream, tennis is synonymous with the upper echelons of society, but scratch beneath the surface and you'll quickly discover a different history, one of untold struggles on and off the courts. From the birth of modern tennis in Victorian Britain to the present day, we bear witness to struggles around sexuality, gender, race and class that have transformed the nature of tennis and sport itself. A People's History of Tennis is populated by diverse voices, recounting the sport's gay origins, 'Workers' Wimbledon', battles for gender equality and more. Going beyond centre court, this book reveals the hidden history of the game, providing a rich account of the challenges faced and victories won.

'Berry's potted history makes for a lively, informative read.. and, above all, makes you want to pick up a racquet'

-- Emily Bootle, New Statesman

'Engaging and thoughtful'

-- William Skidelsky, Guardian

 'A persuasive case for tennis as a great democratic game'

-- Tim Adams, Observer

'A fluent and enjoyable history of tennis'

-- Norma Clarke, Literary Review

‘The central thesis of David Berry’s excellent A People’s History of Tennis is that despite establishment credentials, tennis is surprisingly radical.'

-- Robert Domenghetti, Times Literary Supplement

‘Great news – playing tennis is not inconsistent with radical politics. This is just one of the fascinating facts in this amazing history of our sport’

-- Lord Richard Layard, Emeritus Professor of Economics at the LSE co-author of the ‘Thrive: The Power of Psychological Therapy’

‘We might think of lawn tennis as a sport of the privileged, but this fascinating, beautifully written book reveals that in its 150-year history it has been played with passion by women, lesbians and gays, ethnic minorities and socialists alike’

-- Lucy Bland, Professor of Social and Cultural History, Anglia Ruskin University and author of 'Britain's 'Brown Babies''

'David Berry's delightfully gossipy book delves into the personal histories of tennis players famous and unknown. He lovingly charts the progress of the game since its beginnings in the Victorian period and explains why so many people, players and spectators, love it'

-- Elizabeth Wilson author of 'Love Game: A History of Tennis, from Victorian Pastime to Global Phenomenon'

'A suffragette plot to burn down Wimbledon, Jewish quotas at your local tennis club, All England Married Couples Championships - you think you know tennis and then along comes this compelling little gem by David Berry, positing a progressive social history of the sport that surprises and delights. Hugely enjoyable and highly informative'

-- David Cohen, Investigations Editor at the London Evening Standard

'Fascinating'

-- Simon Kuper, Financial Times

David Berry is a writer, journalist and filmmaker. He was a documentary director at BBC Television for twenty-five years. He has written about health and leisure for a wide variety of publications including the Guardian, the Mirror, Prospect and the New Statesman. He has been playing tennis since he was eleven years old.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780745339658
ISBN 10	0745339654
Title	A People's History of Tennis
Author	David Berry
Series	People's History
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Pluto Press
Year published	2020-05-20
Number of pages	256
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable