The Soccer War
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A witness's account of the Cold War
  • Elegant, compelling prose
  • World View Changing
  • Mankind kicks endless own goals
  • Ryszard can do Much Better
The Soccer War
Ryszard Kapuscinski
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
SoccerSoccer | Biographies | Sports | Subjects | Books
AfricaAfrica | History | Subjects | Books | African Studies | Algeria | Angola | Benin | Botswana | Central Africa | Comoros | Democratic Republic of Congo | Djibouti | East Africa | Egypt | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea | Ethiopia | Gabon | Gambia | General | Ghana | Guinea | Guinea Bissau | Ivory Coast | Kenya | Lesotho | Liberia | Libya | Madagascar | Malawi | Mali | Mauritania | Morocco | Mozambique | Namibia | Niger | Nigeria | North Africa | Rwanda | Sao Tome and Principe | Senegal | Sierra Leone | Somalia | South Africa | Southern Africa | Sudan | Swaziland | Tanzania | Togo | Tunisia | Uganda | West Africa | Western Sahara | Zambia | Zimbabwe
GeneralGeneral | Military | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Another Day of Life Another Day of Life
  2. Imperium Imperium
  3. The Emperor The Emperor
  4. Shah of Shahs Shah of Shahs
  5. The Shadow of the Sun The Shadow of the Sun

ASIN: 0679738053
Release Date: 1992-02-04

Book Description

Part diary and part reportage, The Soccer War is a remarkable chronicle of war in the late twentieth century. Between 1958 and 1980, working primarily for the Polish Press Agency, Kapuscinski covered twenty-seven revolutions and coups in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Here, with characteristic cogency and emotional immediacy, he recounts the stories behind his official press dispatches—searing firsthand accounts of the frightening, grotesque, and comically absurd aspects of life during war. The Soccer War is a singular work of journalism.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A witness's account of the Cold War.......2006-11-06

It is a striking book. Mr. Kapuscinski is a great writer and the narrative is simply wonderful.

It is a great account of the cold war, as fought in Africa and Latin America.

5 out of 5 stars Elegant, compelling prose.......2006-01-30

Kapuscinski is the master of international journalism. Often he prefaces his accounts by saying something to the affect of, "Everyone told me that trying to get into the Congo was suicide. I had to do it." The result is a perspective that no one else is able to give, a sometimes brutal but eye-opening account of the effects of war.
The best part of The Soccer War to me is Kapuscinski's ability not only to report on war, but to capture the humanity of the people involved. He is in this way an anthropologist as much a journalist. True, this book covers extensive topic matter: Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Algeria, Congo, Burundi, Cyprus, etc, but Kapuscinki's voice is powerful enough to unify these seemingly disparate stories.
If you are curious about world history, if you want a humanistic and first-hand view of events that have shaped our world today, this is your book. There were times when I was literally on the edge of my seat wondering if Kapuscinski would make it out alive. Of course, we know he did because he pubished a book about these experiences.

Visit my blog: http://www.writingup.com/blog/namingame

5 out of 5 stars World View Changing.......2005-11-30

It's almost impossible to process the news with the same perspective after reading this book...what was true in the 60s still rings true today. I picked up this book while simultaneously reading articles in Esquire and The New Yorker about people (Bill Gates, Bill Clinton...) trying to make a difference in Africa. While I was made hopeful by the observations in today's mainstream press, I grew increasingly frustrated when confronted with the dark reality that Kapuscinski exposes.

5 out of 5 stars Mankind kicks endless own goals.......2005-11-04

As somebody who once lived in Honduras before the infamous soccer war of 1969, I long had Kapuscinski's book on my "must read" list. Though I bought it five years ago, I didn't get around to reading it till just now. I'm glad I did. THE SOCCER WAR is another sterling volume from this master of description.

THE SOCCER WAR isn't a book about the absurd war between El Salvador and Honduras, triggered by World Cup qualification matches, but really caused by El Salvador's overpopulation and the subsequent overflow of Salvadorenos into much-emptier Honduras. The war may also be ascribed to the fact that neither country has been able to tame its landowning classes, who continue to this day to run rampant over the poor masses of people. In any case, this war, which happened decades ago, occupies only 30 pages of a 234 page book. The rest of the book contains vignettes from Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, Burundi, Algeria, Tanganyika, Syria, Cyprus, and Ethiopia. I think another title would have given readers a better idea of what the book is about. Anyway, I would not say this book is about particular societies or countries, rather it is about the human condition. Kapuscinski, if you have read any of his other (excellent) work, specializes in inserting himself into extreme situations----war, rebellion, conflict, and abnormal behavior. Where the strictures of daily life have fallen down, we find him reporting, usually at considerable risk to his person. He is nearly burned to death in Nigeria, nearly executed in Burundi, nearly lynched in the Congo, nearly blown up in Honduras. In every case, he manages to portray some participants as humane and decent, or as simple people caught up in events beyond their control. He never writes off groups of people as `wild' or `barbarous', but manages to `read' them even as he faces almost certain death. The absurdity of all this violence, the violence that never ends on this planet, comes through loud and clear. Ryszard, you wrote your best, but nobody in charge listened. Readers of the book, however, will come away with a better understanding of human nature and its universal similarity on every continent, among every race and religion. From the stupidity, waste, and blood, we can learn. We just don't.

2 out of 5 stars Ryszard can do Much Better.......2004-04-08

The Soccer Wars is a timeless diary( timeless in the sense that it lacks chronology, not timeless in the sense of transcendance) that bounces from Eastern Europe to West Africa, the Great Lakes region, Central America and through the west back to Poland. Kapuschinski is usually a more thourough analyst and offers insights along the journey.He suggests many times that this is the book "he never got 'round to writing". Unfortunately, the lack of flow, ideas and critical thought makes it a book he shouldn't have written.
Ajax, the Dutch, the War
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A myth-buster!
  • Great book. Engrossing and a quick read
Ajax, the Dutch, the War
Simon Kuper
Manufacturer: Orion mass market paperback
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
NetherlandsNetherlands | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Jewish | World | History | Subjects | Books
HolocaustHolocaust | Jewish | World | History | Subjects | Books
World War IIWorld War II | Military | History | Subjects | Books | Asia | Eastern Front | Europe | General | Hiroshima & Nagasaki | Home Front | Intelligence Operations | Iwo Jima | Naval | Normandy | Pearl Harbor | Personal Narratives | Stalingrad | Western Front | Women
GeneralGeneral | Soccer | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Football Against the Enemy Football Against the Enemy
  2. Barca: A People's Passion Barca: A People's Passion
  3. Ajax, Barcelona, Cruyff Ajax, Barcelona, Cruyff
  4. Brillant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football Brillant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football
  5. How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization

ASIN: 0752842749

Book Description

The Dutch club Ajax is the vehicle through which Simon Kuper recounts the stories of both survival and persecution of members of Amsterdam's Jewish population - with almost 80 per cent of Amsterdam's Jewish Corner wiped out in the War, the long-held notion that, by and large, half the Dutch population had some kind of link to the Resistance has, of late, come into question. Simon Kuper explores this issue and looks deeper into the role of football across Europe in the years both preceding and following World War 2.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A myth-buster!.......2006-01-10

Simon Kuper maintains his easy-flowing style and investigative journalism concerning his topic. I was already suspicious about the 'Dutch tolerance', and this book can be read to shatter all there is...
However, this is not really a book on football or Ajax. Yes, Mr. Kuper is the best to connect football and politics but this time there is more politics than soccer. And it seems that the whole book is organized to shatter a myth in which Ajax is a small part... Anyway, I did not feel any regret to read the book, i am just warning you about what to expect...

5 out of 5 stars Great book. Engrossing and a quick read.......2005-07-05

I bought this book while I was in Amsterdam and began and finished the book on the flight home. The book was enlightening, dispelling many myths and opening my eyes to cultural issues in Holland that are hidden to non Dutch speakers.
At the Copa (Prose series)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    At the Copa (Prose series)
    Marisa Labozzetta
    Manufacturer: Guernica Editions Inc.
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    United StatesUnited States | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    All DealsAll Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
    Literature & FictionLiterature & Fiction | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. Stay With Me, Lella (Prose Series 54) (Prose Series 54) Stay With Me, Lella (Prose Series 54) (Prose Series 54)

    ASIN: 1550712594

    Book Description

    This collection of stories employs humor and poignancy to expose the social and sexual turmoil between modern day men and women. With keen observations of American culture, these tales feature a mother’s sexual legacy that traps her daughter, a restless dentist discovering an unlikely cure to his ailments, a seemingly happily married suburbanite receiving a jolt of sexual panic when visited by a woman selling knives, and a World War II–era couple meeting after 50 years with stunning results. Insightful and moving, the unique voice that unites this collection leaves a lasting impression.
    Football and Fascism: The National Game under Mussolini
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Football and Fascism: The National Game under Mussolini
      Simon Martin
      Manufacturer: Berg Publishers
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      GeneralGeneral | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Italy | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
      History of SportsHistory of Sports | Miscellaneous | Sports | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Football (American) | Sports | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Soccer | Sports | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Sports | Subjects | Books
      FascismFascism | Political Doctrines | Political Science | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
      ASIN: 1859737056
      Release Date: 2004-11-18

      Book Description

      This is a cultural history of Italian Fascism viewed through the lens of soccer. The 1930s were the zenith of achievement for Italian football--Italy hosted and won the 1934 World Cup and retained the trophy in 1938. At club level, Calcio was reorganized into a national league, after which the first Italian club teams emerged to dominate European competition. It was at this time that Mussolini's party institutionalized soccer as a fascist game. Italian Fascism fully exploited the opportunities football provided to shape public opinion, penetrate daily life, and reinforce conformity. By politicizing the game, Fascism also sought to enhance the regime's international prestige and inculcate nationalist values. Football and Fascism is an original look at the appropriation of sport to serve political ends during a dark period of Italian history.
      Hooligan Wars: Causes and Effects of Football Violence (Mainstream Sport)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Hooligan Wars: Causes and Effects of Football Violence (Mainstream Sport)

        Manufacturer: Mainstream Publishing
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        Popular CulturePopular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
        Violence in SocietyViolence in Society | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
        Sports PsychologySports Psychology | Miscellaneous | Sports | Subjects | Books
        Sociology of SportsSociology of Sports | Miscellaneous | Sports | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Football (American) | Sports | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Soccer | Sports | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Sports | Subjects | Books
        Similar Items:
        1. Football Hooligans: Knowing the Score (Explorations in Anthropology) Football Hooligans: Knowing the Score (Explorations in Anthropology)
        2. Blades Business Crew: The Shocking Diary of a Soccer Hooligan Top Boy Blades Business Crew: The Shocking Diary of a Soccer Hooligan Top Boy

        ASIN: 1840186704
        Release Date: 2002-10-03

        Book Description

        Whenever football hooliganism breaks out, the government, the football authorities, the police, and journalists are all too ready to offer quick-fix solutions—solutions that rarely consider the underlying causes of the violence. Is it about boys becoming men, racism, and the hatred of all things foreign, or about a defence of territory and national pride? This title looks behind the easy answers by comparing England's fan culture to football supporters' experience in France, Germany, and Holland. The role of fascist groups is investigated, the effect of media coverage of hooliganism is analyzed, and the impact of all-seater stadiums reviewed.
        The American Soccer League
        Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
        • Letting numbers ONLY tell the story.
        • Comprehensive statistical history of a long-forgotten league
        The American Soccer League
        Colin Jose
        Manufacturer: Scarecrow Press
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

        HistoryHistory | Subjects | Books | Africa | Americas | Ancient | Arctic & Antarctica | Asia | Audiobooks | Australia & Oceania | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | Europe | Gay & Lesbian | Historical Study | Large Print | Middle East | Military | Military Science | Russia | United States | World
        GeneralGeneral | Football (American) | Sports | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Soccer | Sports | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Sports | Subjects | Books
        Similar Items:
        1. Offside: Soccer and American Exceptionalism. Offside: Soccer and American Exceptionalism.
        2. Soccerhead: An Accidental Journey into the Heart of the American Game Soccerhead: An Accidental Journey into the Heart of the American Game
        3. National Pastime: How Americans Play Baseball And the Rest of the World Plays Soccer National Pastime: How Americans Play Baseball And the Rest of the World Plays Soccer

        ASIN: 0810834294

        Book Description

        Soccer was one of the most popular sports in the United States during the 1920s, often drawing huge crowds in relatively small towns to see the world's best players compete. Documented through thousands of newspaper clippings, hundred of written inquiries, memoirs, and personal accounts, this book faithfully records not only the results, the goalscorers, the lineups of teams that made up the American Soccer League from 1921 to 1931, but uncovers as much information as possible about the teams and players and their unique biographies.

        Customer Reviews:

        3 out of 5 stars Letting numbers ONLY tell the story........2006-05-21

        This meticulously-researched book contains maybe 500 pages of extensive statistics and 20 pages (if that) of narrative text. If you're looking for the written history with analysis, anecdotes, exciting moments re-told, or a personal story of the ASL, this book might not be for you. If you are looking for page after page of player names, exact dates, accurate game results, even goalscorers, than this is a no-brainer must for your collection. A typical entry: p 304 NEWARK AMERICANS 1931 (FALL) Nov 27 v Hakoah Away Loss 2-5 goals by Archie Stark and (?) McCombie. Also includes 17 pages of team photos, newsprint articles, and snapshots. I was looking for the story and not the stats, so I give it a 3. It's not very useful for the casually interested fan of the beautiful game

        4 out of 5 stars Comprehensive statistical history of a long-forgotten league.......1998-12-12

        This book fills a critical gap in the historic literature of American Soccer, by providing a comprehensive statistical history of the first true major soccer league in this country.The ASL was as powerful as the NFL during the 1920's, but later folded and faded into complete obscurity, for decades existing as little more than rumor. Colin has singlehandedly reconstructed their entire history from box scores and news articles culled from newspaper microfilms.

        His reconstruction of a significant part of American soccer history comes at an important time as the professional game enjoys unprecedented growth and new fans are beginning to redisocver the game's long heritage in the United States.

        The statistical summaries are thorough, from player stats to linescores, and team histories. The news items and description of league activity is fairly basic but adequate. Most interesting are essays illustrating how the league fit in with the rest of the American soccer landscape of the era, and the extensive records of European stars who were attracted to the league by its generous salaries. There is a nice selection of rarely seen photographs of early players and teams, including Archie Stark, the Boston Wonder Workers and the New York Hakoah All-Stars.

        This is a good follow-up to Colin's earlier statistical survey; "The Complete Guide to the North American Soccer League".
        Dynamo
        Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
        • The Nazis were also sore losers.
        Dynamo
        Andy Dougan
        Manufacturer: Fourth Estate
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        UkraineUkraine | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
        World War IIWorld War II | Military | History | Subjects | Books | Asia | Eastern Front | Europe | General | Hiroshima & Nagasaki | Home Front | Intelligence Operations | Iwo Jima | Naval | Normandy | Pearl Harbor | Personal Narratives | Stalingrad | Western Front | Women
        GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Soccer | Sports | Subjects | Books
        Similar Items:
        1. Dynamo: Triumph and Tragedy in Nazi-Occupied Kiev Dynamo: Triumph and Tragedy in Nazi-Occupied Kiev

        ASIN: 1841153192

        Customer Reviews:

        4 out of 5 stars The Nazis were also sore losers........2007-02-19

        The German Nazis were many things including murderers, and racists. In this interesting book by Dougan, they were also sore losers. This great Kiev team of footballers who survived the initial occupation of Kiev played several German teams. They dominated them and beat them in front of the German high command. This should have been the end of the story, but the German Nazis could not take defeat of their "superior" team, and arrested the team in mass and placed them in a concentration camp.

        In the 1960s and 70s, Leondid Bresnhev resurrected the story of these footballers and made them national heroes. Dougan now details this terrific story for the Engish speaking world. The beginning of this story was rather slow, and the summary also could have been more detailed of the fates of all in the story. Other than that, a nice heroic story.
        The Story of the World Cup
        Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
        • GOOD.
        • Smooth, incisive history
        • The World Cup Gospel According to Brian
        • Brilliant
        • Great descriptions of World Cup Atmosphere
        The Story of the World Cup
        Brian Glanville
        Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        HistoryHistory | Subjects | Books | Africa | Americas | Ancient | Arctic & Antarctica | Asia | Audiobooks | Australia & Oceania | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | Europe | Gay & Lesbian | Historical Study | Large Print | Middle East | Military | Military Science | Russia | United States | World
        GeneralGeneral | Football (American) | Sports | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Soccer | Sports | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Sports | Subjects | Books
        Sports EventsSports Events | Miscellaneous | Sports | Subjects | Books
        Similar Items:
        1. Football Against the Enemy Football Against the Enemy
        2. Soccer in Sun and Shadow, New Edition Soccer in Sun and Shadow, New Edition

        ASIN: 0571190812

        Amazon.com

        For a month every four years, millions around the world turn their attention to the World Cup, where the most skillful soccer players proudly represent their countries. Brian Glanville, a sports journalist and soccer commentator, brings his wit and detailed knowledge of the game to The Story of the World Cup, a breezy romp through the competition's history and personalities. Although Glanville is obviously knowledgeable about his subject--from its origins to its politics--he is careful not to patronize his readers. He strolls through the narrative much like a tour guide, pausing here and there to reflect or evangelize on events that would perhaps go unnoticed by the untrained eye. But Glanville never forgets the real stars of this story: the players. Some are names that are recognizable, like Maradona and Pele--whom he follows from beginning to end (and in some cases, sordid end); others are the lesser-known stars, ranging from Beckenbaur and Cruyff to Garincha and Moore. Each team has its own unique story, whether it be the fallen genius of Argentina's Maradona or the perpetual bad luck of the Dutch. There is also a subtle message here: Glanville suggests that soccer return to basics and warns of the dangers of too much glitz and bureaucracy. The Story of the World Cup is both educational and entertaining--one part encyclopedia, one part drama. --Jeremy Storey

        Customer Reviews:

        4 out of 5 stars GOOD........2006-02-22

        Objectivity is absent at times in this very thorough history. He inflates the importance and success of British Footballers. But, since England has never won the European Cup and last won the World Cup in 1966 I guess few readers will find his bias surprising. However, he does have a computer chip Knowledge of the "World's Most Popular Sport." He gives the most detailed accounts of the World Cups of the 1930's and 50's that I have ever come across. In depth analysis , vivid portraits of great players and games are in abundance. The true fan will feel like you have just been at the stadium having viewed a classic match.

        5 out of 5 stars Smooth, incisive history.......2003-11-03

        Glanville brings wit, humor and a critical eye to his history of the World Cup. More than simply a dry rehash of scores and stats, this book almost has a literary flavor, painting pungent, vivid and memorable portraits of the players and their times.

        You get a feel for the drama, the excitement and the raw energy of the World Cup. For example, it is not simply stated that the Brazilians cultivated Mexican fans in 1970, but Glanville adds such memorable lines as "The Brazilians pursued a shrewd policy of 'beads for the natives..'.

        Glanville's description of players, even obscure ones, shows dry wit, a keen eye and someone who has done his homework. Most writers would have dashed off a conventional 3-word blurb. Not Glanvile. For example, in describing sturdy Russian sweeper Chesternev(?) Glanville speaks of him "sweeping up diligently in his crouching bird-dog style.." Likewise another player is described not merely as a fast winger but " a strongly-built, moustached, and melancholy figure, with fabled control and finishing power."

        And indeed, so he was. You get the sense that this is soccer as it should be played- with supreme confidence and absolute conviction. Despite the literary flavor, this book has meat, solid meat. Who wants a simple rehash of what went down? Glanville begins every chapter with a background to the Cup- the sometimes unsavoury politics and posturing, the jealousies, the disappointments of good players who didn't make the cut. Then he breaks down the detail of the contenders- their strengths and weaknesses. Like I said, this is meaty analysis, not another
        rehash of stats we already know.

        The viginettes and scenes are amazing, Puskas eating monkey nuts in Chile, grousing about Hungarian football, Pele's audacious attempt to beat Viktor from 50 yards out in 1970, the father of Spanish player DiStefano in 62 flying in with a mysterious "magic linament" to heal his son, the "spontaneous" 1970 Mexican crowd that conveniently and noisly gathered outside the English team's hotel, keeping the players awake all night, before the match with Brazil, the blazing speed and mesmerizing moves of the deformed winger- Garrincha of Brazil, the cheeky "street" caper of Maradona's infamous "Hand of G-d" goal, the brave comebacks of Germany in 1982 and 1986, the redemption of the scandal-smeared Paolo Rossi, and so on.. You almost get the sense of being there on the field.

        Those expecting a cheerleading tome for soccer officialdom would do best to look for another book. Glanville is not afraid to expose the seedy side of the game, nor criticize the FIFA bureaucracy, hooligan fans, coaches and abominable refereeing where warranted, nor do the cynical players and tactics escape his censure.

        There are some minor quibbles. In his 1966 edition, Glanville correctly describes Brazil's swift right winger Garrincha as a mulatto, but in the 1970 edition, he is transformed into a South American Indian. In fact, Garrincha was part black, and this is confirmed in Joseph Page's book "The Brazilians". Of course with Brazil, racial categories are fuzzy, but Glanville does correctly point out that the introduction of black players in that country transformed the game. Some might object to Glanville even mentioning race, but it is interesting nevertheless to see the width of the Black Disapora, and the increasing blend of cultures in sports, and how sports can, in its own limited way, bring people together. Thanks to Glanvile, these glimpses range from "the Black Diamond" Leonidas of Brazil back in 1938, to the swift black winger Andrade of Uruguay circa 1950, to Gatejens, scorer of the shocking goal that upset England in 1950 (yes, the segregated, Jim Crow US had "colored" players), to the pantherine Eusebio and silky smooth Coluna of Portugal in 1966, to the corruscating Teofilo Cubillas of Peru of 1970, to the powerfully built sweeper, Tresor, of France.

        Glanville's book is also invaluable for its many pictures of past players, particularly the older editions. The newer editions chop out a lot of interesting detail- after all the book can only keep expanding as the years pass. But all in all, a must read for every true soccer fan. Something for everyone- the young fan looking for heroes and pictures, the educated dabbler, or the hard-core afficionado.

        5 out of 5 stars The World Cup Gospel According to Brian.......2002-02-07

        Finally, a literary and creative man writing about soccer! Mr. Glanville's encyclopaedic knowledge of the game and his plethora of behind-the-scene anecdotes make this book deliciously enjoyable. Each World Cup is peppered with authentic style making the reader feel like he is smelling chalupas inside Azteca Stadium or bratwurst in Munich's Olympiastadion. The poetic narrative of legendary games such as 1970's Italy vs West Germany or 1982's West Germany vs France is almost Nobel Prize material.

        However, his British twist is conspicuously ubiquitous in the form of inflating paragraphs about obscure Scottish and Welsh footballers that most international soccer hounds don't know or care about... or in lambasting on Maradona time and time again! Objectivity may not be his forte, but Glanville's epic writing of a World Cup history is second to none.

        5 out of 5 stars Brilliant.......2002-02-02

        Brilliant history of the game. I grab and read anything I can by Brian Glanville. Excellent.

        4 out of 5 stars Great descriptions of World Cup Atmosphere.......1999-10-14

        Glanville superbly describes the atmosphere and events that made each World Cup unique. This sometimes means being critical of officials, World Cup organizers, and FIFA, but he is fair to all parties involved. Glanville does a great job of relating how outside events effected events on the pitch (such as England being harassed by locals outside their hotel in Mexico in 1970). My only complaint is that in describing games, he often glosses over the final result or score, or frames the paragraphs so that the outcome of the game is lost in a sea of descriptions. I often had to consult the scores at the end of each chapter to be sure exactly who had come out on top of some of the first round matches. But overall, this book captures the excitement of the world's greatest sporting event.
        12-0 to the Arsenal
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          12-0 to the Arsenal
          Graham Weaver
          Manufacturer: Mainstream Publishing
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          GeneralGeneral | Soccer | Sports | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
          ASIN: 1840180501
          Australia 1922-1998 (The International Line-ups and Statistics Series)
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            Australia 1922-1998 (The International Line-ups and Statistics Series)
            John Punshon , and John Robinson
            Manufacturer: Soccer Books Ltd
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

            HistoryHistory | Subjects | Books | Africa | Americas | Ancient | Arctic & Antarctica | Asia | Audiobooks | Australia & Oceania | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | Europe | Gay & Lesbian | Historical Study | Large Print | Middle East | Military | Military Science | Russia | United States | World
            GeneralGeneral | Soccer | Sports | Subjects | Books
            ASIN: 1862230226

            Montcalm and Wolfe: The French and Indian War
            Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
            • Great Prose, bad information
            • A classic
            • Beautiful prose - Questionable objectivity
            • Not for today
            • A classic that keeps its edge
            Montcalm and Wolfe: The French and Indian War
            Francis Parkman
            Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

            GeneralGeneral | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Colonial Period | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
            First NationsFirst Nations | Canada | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Asia | History | Subjects | Books
            IndiaIndia | Asia | History | Subjects | Books | Ancient
            StrategyStrategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
            Similar Items:
            1. Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766 Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766
            2. Francis Parkman : France and England in North America : Vol. 1: Pioneers of France in the New World, The Jesuits in North America in the Seventeenth Century, La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West, The Old Regime in Canada (Library of America) Francis Parkman : France and England in North America : Vol. 1: Pioneers of France in the New World, The Jesuits in North America in the Seventeenth Century, La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West, The Old Regime in Canada (Library of America)
            3. The Annotated and Illustrated Journals of Major Robert Rogers The Annotated and Illustrated Journals of Major Robert Rogers
            4. Betrayals: Fort William Henry and the Massacre Betrayals: Fort William Henry and the Massacre
            5. Francis Parkman : The Oregon Trail / The Conspiracy of Pontiac (The Library of America) Francis Parkman : The Oregon Trail / The Conspiracy of Pontiac (The Library of America)

            ASIN: 0306810778

            Book Description

            "He who opens these pages for the first time faces a rich experience."-C. Vann Woodward.

            In the words of Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., here "is romantic history at its most vivid and compelling." This edition of the classic study of the two brilliant opposing generals in the French and Indian War features not only over forty illustrations but also a masterly foreword by the distinguished historian C. Vann Woodward.

            Download Description

            The result of over forty years of passionate research, Montcalm and Wolfe is the epic story of Europe's struggle for dominance of the New World. Centuries of rivalry and greed between the great imperial powers culminated in five brutal years of war; resulted in the death of both generals, Louis de Montcalm and James Wolfe; and ultimately sowed the seeds of the American Revolution, fought a scant seventeen years later. A brilliant work of scholarship as well as a riveting read, Montcalm and Wolfe was thought by many, including the author, to be Parkman's greatest work. It is an essential part of any military history collection.

            Customer Reviews:

            2 out of 5 stars Great Prose, bad information.......2006-12-14

            While this book is a classic in American history it does not compare to modern histories. While Parkman selectively uses his evidence and omits key details the prose is very good. Overall though this book should not be used due to the inaccuracies. He also omits the contributions of the Indians which was a decisive factor in the war. See either Crucible of War, Empires at war or The Scratch of a Pen.

            5 out of 5 stars A classic.......2006-05-21

            Despite having been first published in 1884, Montcalm and Wolfe is still among the most informative books on the subject of the French and Indian war and by and far the most entertaining and least boring available unlike some works recently published.

            Highly informative. A joy to read. Pleasant reading for those interested in the subject or just plain interested in reading a good book.

            5 out of 5 stars Beautiful prose - Questionable objectivity.......2005-03-12

            Francis Parkman (1823-1893) was the first great American historian and today the most prestigious award in the field bears his name. "Montcalm and Wolfe" represents volumes six and seven of his celebrated study on the Anglo-French conflict in North America. This book is more than an excellent history of a seminal but largely forgotten conflict; it is nothing less than a work of literary art and very much a piece of American history itself.

            Even if you have little interest in the Seven Years' War or the colonial-era in general, Parkman's writing alone is reason enough to put "Montcalm and Wolfe" on your reading list. Here is one notable, but by no means unusual, example of Parkman's narrative abilities, which describes the journey of colonial troops through the marshes around Lake Oneida in upstate New York in 1755:

            "Thither the bateaux were dragged on sledges and launched on the dark and tortuous stream, which, fed by a decoction of forest leaves that oozed from the marshy shores, crept in shadow through depths of foliage, with only a belt of illumined sky gleaming between the jagged tree-tops. Tall and lean with straining towards the light, their rough, gaunt stems trickling with perpetual damps, stood on either hand the silent hosts of the forest. The skeletons of their dead, barkless, blanched and shattered, strewed the mudbanks and shallows; others lay submerged, like bones of drowned mammoths, thrusting lank, white limbs above the sullen water; and great trees, entire as yet, were flung by age or storms athwart the current - a bristling barricade of matted boughs."

            Parkman's descriptions of Braddock's defeat on the Monongahela, the eviction of the Acadians, the siege of Louisbourg and the Battle of Quebec, to name just a few, are so vivid and intense that the images are seared into the reader's mind. I had read about these events several times before, often by skilled historians, but reading Parkman is like being there.

            Parkman's work is built on exhaustive primary research and his extensive quotes from the personal letters of the leading figures on both sides of the conflict are fascinating and illuminating. That said, his history is hardly objective. To begin with, he is unabashedly Anti-Catholic. With the exception of the nurse-nuns at Quebec, everyone associated with the Church in Canada is described as completely venal and manipulative. In fact, he attributes much of the war - especially the barbarity of the French-Indian allies - to the actions of local priests, who in turn received tacit support from Versailles. He also wears his anglophilia on his sleeve. He spends much time and effort defending the British actions in displacing the entire Catholic population of Acadia in 1755: it was the priests that fostered opposition to allegiance to King George II; the British actions in Acadia went above-and-beyond to ensure the protection of religious freedom among the Acadians; all the British asked was neutrality; the Acadians themselves are described as simpletons easily manipulated by the French and priests; English settlers didn't appear in Acadia for five years "proving" that the British weren't motivated by a land grab; etc.

            One of the more interesting aspects of this non-PC approach is the portrayal of the Native-Americans on both sides. Nearly all contemporary histories go out of their way, it seems, to take the rough edges off of Indian warfare and the result of raids on the frontier. Parkman describes the tribes and their acts in graphic detail: scalping, torture, cannibalism, slavery, etc. The reader gets a palpable sense of the fear an Indian war whoop must have instilled in colonists who no doubt had heard the stories of what happened to those sorry souls that fell into Indian hands.

            Finally, there are two basic types of characters in Parkman's writing: good guys and bad guys. The former includes, above all, Montcalm and Wolfe, but also Lord Howe, Roger and his "Rangers," and one other French general, Levi. The latter group is led by the French Governor-General Vaudreiul and the knaves that supplied New France (especially Bigot and Pean) and represented by General Abercromby on the British side (he actually defends Braddock).

            In short, "Montcalm and Wolfe" is like reading history written by Saul Bellow. It is one of the most important history books ever written in the English language and easily a classic of American military history.

            2 out of 5 stars Not for today.......2005-02-07

            As literature, its as good as historical writing gets. As history, its racist to the bone.

            5 out of 5 stars A classic that keeps its edge.......2003-06-21

            This is one of the earliest books on the French and Indian War, and it still is a great read. While excellent in its own right, it forms the final and arguably the best volume in a series on the French in North America by Parkman. A lot of work and analysis has taken place since this was written, so something like Fred Anderson's "Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America", (also a great book) is very useful for bring the facts up to date. However Parkman provides a great window into the 18th century from the 19th, he provides detail without being boring, and makes it accessible and real.
            Fort Amity: A story of French-Canadian life in the time of Wolfe and Montcalm
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              Fort Amity: A story of French-Canadian life in the time of Wolfe and Montcalm
              Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
              Manufacturer: Dutton
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Unknown Binding

              GeneralGeneral | Canadian | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
              ASIN: B00087O4IO
              Montcalm and Wolfe: France and England in North America (Francis Parkman's works)
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                Montcalm and Wolfe: France and England in North America (Francis Parkman's works)
                Francis Parkman
                Manufacturer: Little, Brown
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Unknown Binding

                GeneralGeneral | France | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
                GeneralGeneral | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
                ASIN: B0008AG32Q
                Montcalm and Wolfe: France and England in North America, part seventh (Francis Parkman's works. New library ed)
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  Montcalm and Wolfe: France and England in North America, part seventh (Francis Parkman's works. New library ed)
                  Francis Parkman
                  Manufacturer: Macmillan
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Unknown Binding

                  GeneralGeneral | France | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
                  ASIN: B0008917T6
                  The Battle of the Plains (Souvenir historical booklets)
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    The Battle of the Plains (Souvenir historical booklets)
                    John Murdoch Harper
                    Manufacturer: Published for the Author
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Unknown Binding

                    GeneralGeneral | France | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
                    ASIN: B00087DUUW
                    Montcalm and Wolfe: the French and Indian War
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Montcalm and Wolfe: the French and Indian War
                      Francis Parkman
                      Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Paperback
                      ASIN: B000OSRIXU
                      Montcalm and Wolfe: The French and Indian War
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        Montcalm and Wolfe: The French and Indian War
                        Francis Parkman
                        Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Paperback
                        ASIN: B000OT0NXQ

                        Books:

                        1. The Stone Cold Truth (WWE)
                        2. The Treasury of Quotes
                        3. The Tricky Part: One Boy's Fall from Trespass into Grace
                        4. Too Many Songs by Tom Lehrer
                        5. Truth and Duty: The Press, the President, and the Privilege of Power
                        6. Until the Final Hour: Hitler's Last Secretary
                        7. Vanilla Beans & Brodo: Real Life in the Hills of Tuscany
                        8. Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith
                        9. When Broken Glass Floats: Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge
                        10. When I Was Elena

                        Books Index

                        Books Home

                        Recommended Books

                        1. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
                        2. The Low-Carb Comfort Food Cookbook
                        3. Philip Dru: Administrator
                        4. Pleasure Wars
                        5. Portable Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing
                        6. Physics of Semiconductor Devices
                        7. Swimming With Frogs: Life In The Brown County Hills
                        8. Taxation, shipping and aircraft : agreement between the United States of America and Luxembourg, eff
                        9. Quit Your Job and Grow Some Hair: Know When to Go, When to Stay
                        10. Smart Things to Know About Growth