Harold Larwood: the Ashes bowler who wiped out Australia - Softcover

Duncan Hamilton

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1849162077 ISBN 13: 9781849162074

Publisher: Quercus, 2010

Synopsis

Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, this is the first ever biography of Harold Larwood. Larwood, one of the most talented, accurate and intimidating fast bowlers of all time is mainly remembered for his role in the infamous Bodyline series of 1932-3 which brought Anglo-Australian diplomatic relations to the brink of collapse.

Larwood was made the scapegoat - and despite the fact he was simply following his captain's instructions, he never played cricket for England again. Devastated by this betrayal, he eventually emigrated to Australia, where he was accepted by the country that had once despised him.

Acclaimed author Duncan Hamilton has gained unprecedented access to the late sportsman's family and archives to tell the story of a true working-class hero and cricketing legend.

About this title

Review:

'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

From the Publisher:

WINNER of the 2009 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award.

About this edition

• Publisher: Quercus
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1849162077
• ISBN 13: 9781849162074
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 388