Sport in Britain: A Social History

by Tony Mason (Editor)

Overview

In this volume, which was originally published in 1989, nine distinguished historians look at the origins, growth and organisation of the major mass-participation sports in Britain. They combine academic expertise with the enthusiasm of the true sports devotee in considering such vital issues as the social background of players and spectators, gambling, public popularity, media coverage and the impact of television, professionalisation and of course the age-old divide between 'gentlemen' and 'players'. Richly illustrated with rarely seen period photographs, the ten essays combine academic research with entertaining anecdotal evidence derived from the folklore of each game. Of interest both to the student of modern British history and serious sports fans everywhere Sport in Britain: A Social History is a fascinating and wide-ranging contribution to its subject.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521180658
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/17/2011
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	372
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.70(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction Tony Mason; 1. Angling John Lowerson; 2. Athletics Jeremy Crump; 3. Boxing Stan Shipley; 4. Cricket Jack Williams; 5. Football Tony Mason; 6. Golf John Lowerson; 7. Hosce-Racing Wray Vamplew; 8. Lawn Tennis Helen Walker; 9. Rowing Christopher Dodd; 10. Rugby Union Gareth Williams; Afterword Tony Mason; Index.

Editorial Reviews

This descriptive volume addresses the questions of the organization and function of sports in society by assembling a collection of essays that describe and compare sport in 12 Asian and African nations from a variety of social science perspectives. Seven figures and more than 25 tables facilitate comparisons, as does an introductory overview. A second introductory essay examines the process of international diffusion of sport, relating it to changes both in the world system and in the class structure of modernizing societies. Ten historians examine the origins, growth, and organization of the major mass participation sports in Britain today. In a (for the British) enthusiastic style, they consider such issues as the social background of players and spectators, gambling, public popularity, media coverage and the impact of television, and professionalism. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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