Author:John Burrowes
'Before Benny, nobody from the Gorbals became World Champion of anything...'
Benny Lynch was Scotland's first World Boxing Champion and the most talked-about British sportsman of his generation. In fact, many consider him to be the finest fighter the country has ever produced.
Benny is the amazing account of how Lynch battled his way above and beyond the 'fifty-shilling men' of his home town of Glasgow to become the champion of Scotland, Britain, Europe and the world, earning a reputation as one of the greatest pugilists of all time. But this absorbing biography also details how his career sadly came to a premature halt because of Lynch's alcoholism, which destroyed his health and led to him being abandoned by his countless followers. It took his tragic death at the age of only 33 to restore the fallen idol to legendary status again.
The gritty reality of the daily grind of life in the Depression-era Gorbals is captured vividly in this remarkable story of the rise and tragic fall of a fighting legend.
'This book is a great read. Not only does Hansen give an insight into the Liverpool side which won eight championships, but in print he combines his trademark bluntness with a degree of tact few of us ever suspected he could achieve' Glasgow Sunday Herald
—— Glasgow Herald'Alan Hansen claims this is an autobiography, but it is much more than that. True, the BBC pundit and Express columnist has more than enough tales to tell from fourteen seasons at Liverpool. But A Matter of Opinion is precisely that. Hansen shares his thoughts on a variety of aspects of the game but the spotlight is never more illuminating than when cast upon himself . . . Now, nine years after hanging up his boots, the analytical style that takes a back seat often enough to allow the dry humour to come through, makes this one of the more readable football books . . . The thoughts of Hansen are a hit.' Express on Sunday
—— Sunday ExpressFife has an infectious enthusiasm for the Tour and it shows in every sentence. This is a difficult book to put down.
—— Cycle SportSavage has become a character of the game with enough anecdotes to warrant a collection of books. This'll do for a start, though. (****)
—— Irish Daily Star on SundayA humorous and touching account of [Savage's] career to date
—— Football PunkFull of incident, detail and gossip
—— Daily TelegraphAstounding
—— The ObserverHugely enjoyable, poignant book... Dave Roberts' wonderful series of tales explain why every one of the programmes made it into the box; each is infused with a mixture of touching reminiscence or laugh-out-loud anecdote
—— Birmingham PostDeliriously enjoyable... utterly engaging
—— Caroline Sanderson , The BooksellerNostalgically warm in its tender recall of the way things used to be, this is a book for the true football follower, whose life has been shaped by the game and doesn't mind admitting it
—— Duncan Hamilton, two-time winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year AwardWonderful, hilarious and moving. 32 Programmes is not just a football memoir but a delicious slice of the 1960s and 1970s, a razor-sharp and achingly evocative social history. This brilliant memoir will resonate with all of us who have ever supported a football team, listened to music and fallen in love.
—— Charlie Connelly, author of Attention All ShippingI loved this book. If you know a man in his forties or fifties, please give him this book
—— John InverdaleA funny, charming and heart-warming tale of obsession
—— Nigel Walrond , Western Sunday IndependentI fail to believe that anyone who reads Dave Roberts' new book 32 Programmes cannot relate to his thinking as a football fan. It traces his life as a football fan through 32 chapters in his life, going into the bitter-sweet details of growing up in the 1970s and '80s via 32 football matches. Building on and around his first book, The Bromley Boys (soon to be released as a film, no less), Dave introduces us to his career, his attempts to find a soul mate and finally in a twist his life changing circumstances that will have you reaching for a tissue. If you read one new book on your holidays this summer, choose this one. And then you try and detail 10, let alone 32, games that mark the milestones in your life
—— The Ball is RoundEntertaining, heart-warming and expertly executed, this book is certain to strike a chord with anyone who's ever loved the game. Engrossing and enjoyable... funny and charming
—— Alistair Hunter , Two Banks of FourAn entertaining read, rich in nostalgia and reminiscent of Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch, this offers an insight into the power of obsession and how the beautiful game has changed. Moving and amusing
—— Sport magazinePaul Hendrickson has another theme more interesting than Hemmingway's boat: the writers deadly effect on his sons
—— Peter Lewis , Daily MailThis is a measured and thoughtful, sometimes lyrical book that adds considerably to the Papa story
—— Ronan Farren , Irish IndependentHendrickson has a tremendous feel for Hemingway, as both writer and man; his own writing is vivid and personal... What he says about Hemingway is usually dead on target
—— Sarah Churchwell , GuardianHemingway's Boat... turns a seemingly trivial search for an old boat up on cinder blocks in a Havana yard and a potentially mawkish concentration on the latter end of a life into a powerful meditation on what made Hemingway tick and what made him great. Though one needs other books for the first 35 years of the life, it supersedes them all.
—— Brian Morton , Sunday HeraldHendrickson has a fluent, engaging tone...he brings us closer to understanding Hemingway as a man who loved and lost - as opposed to the archtypal misogynist bully he is widely regarded as
—— Big Issue in the NorthHis life was spectacular, and, somehow, went spectacularly wrong. Hendrickson tells the story of the man and the boat, and the fish, and the women, and the writing. And then the moment when, at the age of 61, Hemingway woke up early one morning and shot himself. In the head. On purpose. Some story. Very well told
—— William Leith , Evening StandardRich, magisterial account...Other books on Hemingway have tended to focus on his post-1930s literary decline and his machismo. The portrait that emerges from these pages is altogether more human
—— Ed Caesar , Sunday TimesHe has a tremendous feel for Hemingway, as both writer and man
—— Sarah Churchwell , GuardianThis is a portrait of the author which is likely to leave one feeling more warmly disposed towards him
—— HeraldMore a portrait than a biography, this book is a dazzling late example of "New Journalism"...the result is touching, revelatory and utterly absorbing
—— IndependentUnmissable
—— The LadyWhile much of Hemingway’s life may have been hellish, Hendrickson’s writing is a delight. A fine work
—— Fachtna Kelly , Sunday Business PostVery well told
—— William Leith , ScotsmanAn album of fascinating snapshots of Hemingway
—— Simon Shaw , Mail on SundayPaul Hendrickson writes with a great deal of passion…
—— NudgeA terrific and fresh approach to the man
—— Daniel Woodrell , Financial Times