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More Than A Game: The Story of Cricket's Early Years [Hardcover]

John Major
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 448 pages
  • Publisher: HarperPress; First Edition, First Impression edition (1 May 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 000718364X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007183647
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16.4 x 4.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 257,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Roy Major
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Product Description

Review

'I cannot imagine a better guide – authoritative, graceful and always with an eye to bringing out the quirky characters who have made cricket “more than a game”…(Major's) fascination with human behaviour makes lively reading…as a readable and likeable historian of what he loves, he takes some beating. He knows the beauty of the game and makes it live.' Daily Mail

'Expertly compiled and beautifully produced…it's a book full of insight, wisdom and dry humour and, most important of all, unquenchable enthusiasm which will be appreciated by everyone who shares it.’ Sunday Times

'Passion flows through every page…it's likely that as a work of reference "More Than a Game" will supplant its predecessors…long after all the self-serving political memoirs have been utterly forgotten, "More Than a Game" will still be settling arguments and giving pleasure across the civilised, cricket-loving world.' Sunday Telegraph

‘Major's passion illuminates a beautifully produced and engaging account of the game's history from its origins to the first world war.’ Sunday Times

'It's a spectacular achievement. I can't think of anyone else who could have given such an authoritative inner and overview of the game and have the ability and knowledge to put it in the context of cultural, commercial, historical and social happenings at the same time. But more than that, it is a personal book and, even with the extraordinary amount of information, thoroughly readable…a startlingly good book. John has done a marvellous job, and I think, for the first time ever, we have both the reasonably well-known and the unknown facts about cricket put in a social and historical context and in a readable and concise fashion.' David Rayvern Allen

'One of the most detailed, balanced and wide-ranging histories of cricket in Britain yet written.' The Times

'Pleasure shines through this history of the game…nothing quite beats his preface, with his recollections of playing the game as a boy…he gives a stirring account of the way cricket spread across the globe…this book is, above all, a manifesto for his love of the game.' The Guardian

'There's something charming and quintessentially English about this book. Major clearly loves his cricket, has read widely about its early years and is delightfully eager to convey his affection to the reader.' Daily Telegraph

'Major has a sharp sense of history…is lucid on the development of the game…thoroughly even-handed about the sharp conduct of some of the early impresarios of the sport…acute about the input of the aristocratic and autocratic amateurs who dominated the running of the sport…succinct and illuminating…frequently entertaining…As this books makes clear, John Major knows a lot about cricket and a lot of other things too.' Independent on Sunday

'Irresistible…this is history of the highest quality…elegant and amusingly written…a proper comprehensive history, going further and deeper than earlier accounts. It has been wrapped by Harper Press like a treasure. So it should be.' Tribune

'It is a fine, scholarly work. Major's passion for the game does not dupe him into looking at cricket's past through rose-hued spectacles, however. The hard disinterested historian's eye is the prism through which this cricketing history is told…this book proves him to be a first-rate scholar and writer.' The New Statesman

'Major handles the history well…but non-cricket fans will find his personal touches more engaging.' The Observer

'Major's book is highly readable.' The Independent

'Delightfully readable…there is plenty of diverting material…the author carefully blends careful scholarship with light-hearted asides–well-played Sir John!' Country Life

Sunday Times

'Expertly compiled and beautifully produced...it's a book full of
insight, wisdom and dry humour...'

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A long-standing commitment and affection for England's national game is all too apparent in this fascinating and authoritative book. Sir John demonstrates - as if there were any need - the quality of his research and intellect. Old myths are re-examined, sometimes debunked sometimes confirmed, and a new light is shone upon some of cricket's historic controversies. The references to social mores of the times and the matching political events gives it a different but weighty style. I would recommend the book strongly, especially for those who enjoy history as well as cricket.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
My interest in cricket has recently been revived by watching my son play. I was looking for something to fill in the gaps in my knowledge - the orgins of the game, the history of Lords, W G Grace etc. This book does exactly that taking the reader as far as the start of the Great War and is written with obvious enthusiasm and love for the game of cricket. It occasionally slows whilst trying to give a historical context to events but overall it was an enjoyable and informative read. Ideal to tide you over whilst waiting for the new season to start!

More Than a Game: The Story of Cricket's Early Years
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Great read 20 Dec 2009
By Hayles
Format:Hardcover
Former PM Major has turned to his other great love - cricket to write this interesting and highly informative history of the early years of the game. Any sports lover will enjoy this book which is written with real style and affection.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Labour of Love
It is obvious that John Major must have really enjoyed writing this book. He certainly didn't make it easy - by focusing on the first years of cricket, Major picked the time where... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Sport Nut
Thoroughly researched and an enjoyable read
John Major's love of cricket is well known and this weighty volume bears testament to it, along with his careful research and fine prose. Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2008 by M. V. Clarke
Not quite as good as expected
The quality of the research and the insight and love of cricket are evident, you can almost hear for better or worse John speaking when reading it. Read more
Published on 20 July 2008 by J. Hadaway
Surprisingly good
Anyone who read John Major's autobiography and found parts of it a little stodgy and hard going will be pleasantly surprised at the light touch he shows here. Read more
Published on 26 May 2008 by G. L. Haggett
And not a jelly bean in sight......
The point of this book is that no-one is really sure where cricket began. It is largely accepted to have started in a recognisable form in the early eighteenth century and from... Read more
Published on 16 May 2008 by Caterkiller
Enjoyable
Very Enjoyable purchase! I enjoyed reading this, even if the plot's somewhat rushed. Although there's a feeling that the text is there simply to fill up the spaces between the... Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2007 by Jamie Buckingham-Jackson
Affectionate, but rambling
I picked this book off the shelf more out of curiosity about the author (of whom I am an admirer) than for any special love or knowledge of cricket - and then found myself immersed... Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2007 by F Tolley
Unrivalled before 1800; less convincing thereafter
Sir John is at his best in his descriptions of cricketers before the year 1800. He expertly probes the mists to bring us living, breathing characters - players and administrators... Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2007 by Rgh1066
Disappointed
I have followed cricket fore more than 30 years and was really looking forward to reading this book, and have enormeous respect for John Major. Read more
Published on 19 Jun 2007 by Andrew Smith
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