Harold Larwood

Author(s): Duncan Hamilton

Biography

Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, this is the first ever biography of Harold Larwood. Larwood, one of the most talented, accurate and intimidating fast bowlers of all time is mainly remembered for his role in the infamous Bodyline series of 1932-3 which brought Anglo-Australian diplomatic relations to the brink of collapse. Larwood was made the scapegoat - and despite the fact he was simply following his captain's instructions, he never played cricket for England again. Devastated by this betrayal, he eventually emigrated to Australia, where he was accepted by the country that had once despised him. Acclaimed author Duncan Hamilton has gained unprecedented access to the late sportsman's family and archives to tell the story of a true working-class hero and cricketing legend.

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Winner of William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2009 and British Sports Book Awards: Biography 2010. Shortlisted for British Sports Book Awards: Best Cricket Book 2010.

'A near-masterpiece... a magnificently written, intensely moving story of... a great England fast bowler. ... If you want to know why the Ashes matter, you could do worse then lose yourself for a few days in the story of this great and humble man.' Mike Atherton, the Times. 'Wonderful ... Meticulously researched and beautifully written. Please read it.' Mike Selvey, Guardian. This is cricket biography of the highest stamp, fit to compare in recent memory with Gideon Haigh's excavation of the life of Jack Iverson, David Foot's dramatic revisionism on Wally Hammond and Leo McKinstry's remarkably even-handed portrait of Geoff Boycott. Five stars' Wisden Cricketer. 'Finally Larwood's memory is honoured with the biography it deserves' Independent on Sunday. 'An excellent storyteller, Hamilton looks beyond the dry detail of Bodyline to illuminate its principal perpetrator' The Cricketer.

Duncan Hamilton is a former deputy editor of the Yorkshire Post. He is the author of the 2007 William Hill Sports Book of the Year, Provided You Don't Kiss Me: 20 Years with Brian Clough (Fourth Estate).

Foreword: Kicking Bradman Up the Arse. Bloody Hard Work, April 1923-June 1925. Captains, Oh My Captains, August 1925. His Master's Voice, June 1926-September 1927. Beer, Fags and a Cheese Sandwich, September 1929. The Little Bastard, August 1932-September 1932. We Conduct Cricketers' Funerals, December 1932-January 1933. It Wasn't Your Fault, Harold, January 1933-February 1933. Why Didn't You Bowl Underarm? April 1933. I'm Afraid You'll Have to Apologize, May 1933-November 1934. No Bugger Can Drive Me, August 1936. A Lonely and Desolate Chap, June 1948. Our Fate is in the Hands of the Gods, April 1950-December 1950. It's Not Like the Old Days, Don, December 1950-February 1971. I Love a Sunburnt Country, March 1977-1995. Afterword, February 2008. Acknowledgements. Appendices: Who's Who; Harold Larwood, First-Class Record; Australia v England, 1932-33; Bibliography; Index.

General Fields

  • : 9781849162074
  • : Quercus
  • : Quercus Publishing
  • : 0.454
  • : April 2010
  • : 198mm X 132mm X 23mm
  • : United Kingdom
  • : March 2010
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Illustrations, ports.
  • : Illustrations, ports.
  • : 400
  • : oc2010020881
  • : oc2010020881
  • : 796.358092
  • : English
  • : 710
  • : Paperback
  • : Duncan Hamilton