Derek Birley (1926–2002)
Auteur van A Social History of English Cricket
Over de Auteur
Werken van Derek Birley
Tagged
Algemene kennis
- Geboortedatum
- 1926-05-31
- Overlijdensdatum
- 2002-05-14
- Geslacht
- male
- Nationaliteit
- England
- Opleiding
- Hemsworth Grammar School
University of Cambridge (Queens' College) - Prijzen en onderscheidingen
- Knight Bachelor
Leden
Besprekingen
Prijzen
Statistieken
- Werken
- 8
- Leden
- 139
- Populariteit
- #147,351
- Waardering
- 3.9
- Besprekingen
- 2
- ISBNs
- 30
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.… (meer)