A Social History of English Cricket - Softcover

In concentrating on the aristocratic origins of the sport and the developments of the industrial revolution, Birley elucidates the reasons for the disparities in popularity and etiquette of cricket and football. His research is impressive in scope, but its purpose is ultimately hindered by his inability to filter out unnecessary facts.

This is a pity, because there is much noteworthy historical material--appealing to historians and cricket lovers alike--in this weighty book. Yet the historical passages are a little clumsily integrated with cricketing developments and the conclusions are somewhat piecemeal, as if Birley still believes that the historian's role is to be an "objective observer" and present "the facts". This is a somewhat antiquated view, but it is commensurate with the subject matter and the hypocritical mores of the founders of the game--the old-style aristocrats who invented the spirit of cricket and with whom, it appears, Birley cannot help but identify himself. --Toby Green

'A masterpiece'

'An exceptional example of profound research and wisdom, yet told with elegance, humour and warmth.'

'A wonderful book, written with great self-depracating humour. A hugely rewarding read.'

'A masterpiece'

'An exceptional example of profound research and wisdom, yet told with elegance, humour and warmth.'

'A profoundly researched, easily and stylishly written book, put together with a view to a shelf-life of a good half-century, and as a work of reference a fair way beyond that.'

'A wonderful book, written with great self-depracating humour. A hugely rewarding read.'