The First Beautiful Game: Stories of Obsession in Real Tennis - Hardcover

Krznaric, Roman

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1899804129 ISBN 13: 9781899804122

Publisher: Ronaldson Publications, 2006

Synopsis

A QUIRKY JOURNEY INTO THE CURIOUS WORLD OF REAL TENNIS

`This is much more than an enchanting guide to the game of kings. Whatever
your favourite sports may be, Roman Krznaric shows you how to expand the
enjoyment you derive from them. A warm and imaginative book, full of
surprises.' Theodore Zeldin, author of An Intimate History of Humanity

Bent rackets, painted crowns, penthouses and giraffes. Hand-stitched balls
that ricochet around a court shaped like a medieval cloister. Fanatical
players dedicated to a sport that has hardly changed in four centuries.
Welcome to real tennis.

In The First Beautiful Game, top amateur Roman Krznaric tells the personal
stories behind real tennis, the ancient forerunner of lawn tennis. Its
obsessives and eccentrics reveal why they play this extraordinary sport,
what it means to them, and the unexpected lessons they have learned about
ambition, passion, respect and love.

Two hundred years before football became known as `the beautiful game', an
eighteenth century real tennis professional used the phrase to describe his
own sport. In this book you will discover why.

`This book is the first to capture the real spirit of the game and its
players. It's unique.' Rob Fahey, Real Tennis World Champion

About this title

About the Author

Roman Krznaric is a former journalist and academic who now
researches and writes on the art of living. He is co-editor with the
historian Theodore Zeldin of Guide to an Unknown University and author of
the forthcoming What the Rich Don't Tell The Poor: Conversations in
Guatemala. He is one of the top ten amateur real tennis players in the
world. Visit his website at romankrznaric.com.

Edition details

• Publisher: Ronaldson Publications
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1899804129
• ISBN 13: 9781899804122
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 184