On Snooker: A Brilliant Explor - Hardcover

Richler, Mordecai

3.38

106 ratings by Goodreads

9781585741793: On Snooker: A Brilliant Explor

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1585741795 ISBN 13: 9781585741793

Publisher: The Lyons Press, 2001

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

"On Snooker" is a brilliant, witty, and compact look at the game of snooker -- past and present -- by one of the world's great novelists. It takes a close look at the odd origins of the game, born the illegitimate child of billiards on a British Indian Army base in the nineteenth century and in 1985 attracting 18.5 million television viewers who stayed up past midnight to watch the World Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield, England.The central figure of the book is Stephen Hendry, probably the most talented snooker player ever, who recently sought a record-breaking eighth world title. But "On Snooker" also explores the game's other fascinating characters, from Alex Higgins, Cliff Thorburn (a Canadian and the first nonBrit to win the title), Kirk Stevens, and Jimmy White to Ronnie O'Sullivan. Young O'Sullivan, perhaps the game's most gifted natural talent, is a troubled man; his father, a former porn dealer ("Ron's the name, porn's the game") is serving a life sentence for murder. In addition, Richler visits the craftsman who makes cues for the champions and interviews the agents and groupies who follow the players on the circuit.The fascinating world of snooker has never been explored with such pith and perception. Like Joyce Carol Oates's book on boxing, "On Snooker" is a book all lovers of sport and superb sports writing will cherish.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

"Richler's aim is still deadly."--"The New York Times"

From the Back Cover:

Outrageously funny, passionate and thoroughly researched on snooker tables from Montreal's The Main to Dublin, On Snooker is a book that lovers of Richler and of great sports writing will cherish. It is not just a lifelong fan's memoir: it takes us on an entertaining journey through the story and world of snooker, from the odd origins of the game - born the illegitimate child of billiards on a British Indian Army base in the nineteenth century - to the now wildly popular World Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield, England (even at its first televised inception in 1985, 18.5 million viewers stayed up past midnight to watch). On the way we meet the great players - the central figure of the book is Stephen Hendry, probably the most talented snooker player ever - and snooker's bad boy champions. On Snooker is a brilliant, witty and compact look at the game of snooker - past and present - from a masterful storyteller. (6 1/4 x 9 1/4, 214 pages)

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.