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The Wrestling [Paperback]

Simon Garfield (Author)

4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)

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Book Description

Publication Date: 1 Nov 2007

The classic account of the men and women who used to fight each other for pride and money. Simon Garfield brings them to life in one last glorious bout of jealousy, myth, revenge, passion and deep devotion.

When British wrestling was dropped from the ITV schedules in the mid-80s it left the giants of the ring - Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Kendo Nagasaki - bereft. This is the true story of the circuit, the big names and their rivalries, told with humour, warmth and affection. This edition features a new afterword by the author.

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Product details

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Faber and Faber (1 Nov 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0571236766
ISBN-13: 978-0571236763
Product Dimensions: 12.6 x 19.8 cm

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 38,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #18 in Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Combat Sports & Self-Defence > Wrestling

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Product Description

Review

'Funny, tragic, and full to the brim with outrageous arse-whupping, The Wrestling does its subject proud.' -- Observer

Book Description

The hilarious, absurd and tragic story of British wrestling, told by one of the most talented non-fiction writers around.

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Customer Reviews

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27 reviews

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A very British "sport"...... 14 Jan 2000

By RJ Grove

Format:Paperback

Whilst wrestling thrives in the rest of the world its British cousin seems in terminal decline. This is the background against which Simon Garfield stirs the meomories of the "glory days" of wrestling in Britain. He tells the tale through the words of others and has produced not a definitive history but an entertaining parable of egotistical "characters" and rivalries that last to the present day. The book is never completely open about the realities of a professional wrestling match but instead allows the reader to feel like an outsider hearing careless wispers from behind the curtain. The vow of silence these men took seems to remain with most of them today. This is to some extent misguided, as anyone who is a fan of America's WWF knows. There the big names to not "insult" the fans intelligence by insisting it is real at all costs. In interviews and books outside the WWF's world (and sometimes in it) they make no secret of the way things are. And that is why so many people find it a form of entertainment that appeals to them. The wrestlers for the most part make up history to suit there own ends and thus presented together on the page form a hilarious patchwork of stories. Sometimes all the contributers are pulling in the same direction and a heart warming (or horrifying) story presents itself. Other times it desends into funny or meloncoly slanging matches about who "f***ed it all up". This is a slightly frustrating book if you already are aware of some of the behind the scenes bust ups and stories but to others it will delight at every turn. The last 2 chapters are the most depressing with two young(ish) talents from the current scene are quietly wallowing in the poverty of British wrestling as they compete with insulting rip-offs of WWF characters (usually the ones they ripped off were rubbish in their first incarnation). The underground scene has picked up slightly since the book was written with talented foreigners visiting occasionally and some "new-age" talent popping through. However the only thing that drives these youngsters on is getting out to America or Japan. At the base end of the market promoters are still presenting the outdated style of many mentioned in the book and the product is slowly dying. This book leaves us with lovely memories of a very British "sport".......one which is gone, best forgotten.

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Tragi-Comedy 6 Oct 2000

By david.bennison@artesiaservices.be

Format:Paperback

When I think of the (few!) books I've read in the past 5 years, this one keeps coming back to me. Simon Garfields style of quotation over narration (as per his Radio One book - almost as great as this) works well here with an obviously (inadvertantly in some cases) hillarious cast of heros, daredevils and madmen who loved the sport and reaped very few benefits. It's a sad story of the decline of a great 'spectacle' I loved in my youth on World Of Sport. Listening to the stories of being paid 15 quid a fight and squashing the puss out of pig-bitten fingers pre-fight only makes you love this era more and wonder quite where it all went wrong with American Wrestling! Gloriously entertaining stuff.

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wrestling has never been told with such love 9 Dec 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

What can I say about this book it is truly an outstanding piece of literature on the beloved spectacle that is known as Wrestling, it will make you laugh and cry and share the emotions of the giants of the ring. Find out more about the real workings of an industry which in the Uk is dying but yey so vibrant throughout the world. If being a wrestling fan is an embarrassment then you're in good company with the likes of the Royal Family former PMS and Paul Mc Cartney to name a few. If there is one book you must read on the greatest spectacle on earth read The Wrestling.

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› See all 27 customer reviews (newest first) on Amazon.co.uk

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› Go to Amazon.com to see all 4 reviews 4.2 out of 5 stars

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Amusing read

Bit indulgent in places but some interesting insights into the past. Certainly makes you think a bit about what we watched and one of the characters featured is one J Savile

Published 4 days ago by A. Brooks

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book but shorter than expected

Good book but was amazed to find it I finished at 68% and the rest was an index. Some amusing stories though and worth a read

Published 14 days ago by Rob Scott

3.0 out of 5 stars Simon Garfield - The Wrestling

The Wrestling: The Hilarious True Story of Britain's Last Great Superheroes.

By Simon Garfield.

Published by Faber and Faber. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Jimmy Wheeler

4.0 out of 5 stars Warts and all look at the world of wrestling during its 60's and 70's...

Anyone for whom wrestling formed an essential part of the Saturday afternoon television experience should read this excellent
account whether you regarded it as a pantomime... Read more

Published 2 months ago by The Nawab of Pitullie

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!

I bought this book for my partner as he is a big wrestling fan and he had mentioned that he would like to read it. Read more

Published 2 months ago by LISAMUM

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!

Say what you like about British Wrestling as seen on TV, I can tell you that as a kid growing up in the seventies and eighties it was entertainment at its best. Read more

Published 3 months ago by @tomgold5

3.0 out of 5 stars Book on the old wrestling personalities

Full of anecdotes of the old wrestling personalities from the 60s and 70s this book does not grab the reader

Published 3 months ago by Churchiegirl

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read

Not as funny as some had suggested but as a watcher of British TV wrestling, I have found it an insight into the world my grandma and i so loved to watch. Read more

Published 3 months ago by john f a birtwistle

5.0 out of 5 stars Book

This was very good read. It was both sad and funny but gave a vivid account about life as a wrestler

Published 4 months ago by Mrs. Carol Jeffreys

4.0 out of 5 stars Richard Osman recommendation

Nostalgia for seventies world of sport minority sports. Well researched and amusing recollections. Enjoyable week end read. Worth the buy

Published 4 months ago by B. Prentice

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