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'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.
'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.
Review
This is a brilliant book, encompassing themes way beyond the narrow confines of sport - Times. A magnificently written, intensely moving story of that rarest of breeds - a great England fast bowler If you want to know why the Ashes matter, you could do worse than lose yourself for a few days in the story of this great and humble man - Michael Atherton, The Times. 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. Vivid portrayal of his subject an excellent cricket biography, one of the best of recent times. Thoroughly recommended' All Out Cricket. One of the most dramatic sporting stories of all time' Sport magazine. The first biography of Larwood the scapegoat, a great bowler but a stubborn man, Hamilton has filled the gap magnificently' Sunday Times.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This biography is a sympathetic account of the fastest bowler the world has ever seen - allowing the reader to understand him fully in a way that previous published works have failed to do - and giving an insight into the man and cricketer that is wonderful to behold. It tells of the proud man who always put his family first and of the proud cricketer who always gave of his best - even in difficult circumstances. It corrects that much believed myth that Larwood was just a tool under Jardine's control and replaces it with the fact that in reality, Larwood stood shoulder to shoulder with his 'Skipper' when it came to believing in and delivering 'Bodyline'. Harold Larwood paid as high a price as DRJ for his involvement in the 1932/33 Ashes series and yet never sought to blame his captain - always holding Douglas Jardine in the highest regard both as a man and as a cricketer. I warmly recommend this book to anyone interested in cricket or history or both but also to those wishing to get a more realistic account of 'Bodyline' from its principle weapon. It is a book that once picked up the reader will find it hard to put down.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A decent biography of one the greats of English cricket is long overdue and Hamilton does Harold Larwood proud. Packed with fascinating and often very funny anecdotes, Hamilton tells the story of Larwood's rise from the mines of Nottingham to become the fastest, most devastating and most feared bowler in the world. Every aspect of Larwood's career from the early days at Notts through to the England period, the Bodyline tour and aterwards is handled with immense care and detail. Yes, it's an athorised biography, so it's kind to Larwood. But Hamilton gives plenty of insight into this prickly, proud and stubborn character. Brilliant on his relationships with Voce, Jardine, Carr, the MCC and, of course, Bradman and the appalling way the events unfolded in the aftermath of the Bodyline crisis. Extraordinary how welcoming and kind the Australians were to him when he finally emigrated there.
Harold Larwood is a very touching, warm and gripping read, though Hamilton could have done with a sterner editor because it's a tad over-written in places. But don't let that stop you buying and enjoying this marvellous biography of a great gentleman and giant of cricket.
Harold Larwood is a very touching, warm and gripping read, though Hamilton could have done with a sterner editor because it's a tad over-written in places. But don't let that stop you buying and enjoying this marvellous biography of a great gentleman and giant of cricket.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is an outstanding book - the best cricket book I have read in years. The story of the '32-33 series has been told many times but this book is more about the man.
The latter parts of the book, about his post cricket life, are particularly fascinating but also very sad. I don't mind admitting I had more than one lump in my throat as I got near the end. This MUST be Wisden's cricket book of the year for 2010 - if not sports book of the year period. This book exceeds Hamilton's previous biography of Brian Clough by far in my view (which was also very good).
The latter parts of the book, about his post cricket life, are particularly fascinating but also very sad. I don't mind admitting I had more than one lump in my throat as I got near the end. This MUST be Wisden's cricket book of the year for 2010 - if not sports book of the year period. This book exceeds Hamilton's previous biography of Brian Clough by far in my view (which was also very good).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The complete story of Larwood
I thought I knew all about Harold Larwood. But this fascinating and brilliantly written biography reveals the full story about one of England's greatest fast bowlers. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Julian
Gripping and moving...
One of the best cricket biographies I have ever read, telling the story of one of England's finest but sadly mis-treated cricketers. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Phil your boots
Insightful analysis of the life of the fastest bowler to have lived!
Okay, this book is a little hagiographic, but what's wrong with that when we're dealing with a genuinely heroic working class hero trying to navigate his way through what became a... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Niall
Real sense of character
This is one of the best cricket books, and one of the best biographies that I've read. The author keeps a tight focus on Larwood as the book's subject, not allowing himself to... Read more
Published 7 months ago by RichG78
Brilliant biography
Worth buying to follow the way the oxbridge set and spineless cricketing establishment, treated a real working class hero. No wonder he emigrated . Read more
Published 15 months ago by geee w
Heart Touching
A truly compelling book on a working class man persecuted by the MCC just for doing what his captain ,Douglas Jardine told him to do in the test series . Read more
Published 17 months ago by heppy
One of the best cricket biographies I've read
I knew something of Larwood before reading the book. Bodyline or Leg Theory bowling is part of our cricket heritage. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Paul Jeater
Magnificent and fascinating
This is my first review but I was simply entranced by this excellent examination of a man treated unfairly by the cricket establishment. Read more
Published 19 months ago by charltt
Superb
A great book that should be judged as being a work of contemporary historical writing rather than as yet another example that much maligned, and sometimes very rightly, genre... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Michael Morris
Great read about Cricket and a lovely period in History
Best book I've read in a long long time. Duncan Hamilton really brings out the characters from the 30's as if you'd known them all your life. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Pedro
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