The Death of Ayrton Senna

Oct 2, 2024 10:41 PM

Author:Richard Williams

The most definitive and compelling book about the legendary racing driver, now a BAFTA award-winning documentary.

'For the casual racing fan it's a mighty good read, for the Senna fan it's indispensable' Time Out

Millions of people around the world watched in horror on that fateful day in Imola at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix when Ayrton Senna's car careered off the track at 190mph. The greatest driver in Formula One history was dead.

In this classic sports book, Richard Williams explores the complex Brazilian who was a hero in his own country and an icon to everyone who loved not just motor-racing but sport itself. In his drive to win and his desire always to test himself to the limit, Senna embodied all that is best and most thrilling in sport.

Reviews

A belter . . . No book better explains why watching Wales was almost a religious experience (*****)

—— Rugby World

An explosive and gripping autobiography

—— The Sun

A character as extrovert as Andy Goram is apt for an appealing - and controversial - autobiography

—— Justin Taylor, BBC Sport

A genius

—— Tiger Woods

It conveys well the momentousness of the achievement- It captures the power of the amateur spirit

—— Alastair Campbell, The Times

Barclay tells his story and in doing so describes the way the game has changed over the years. We see the famous temper in action, but also a more reflective, generous side

—— Colin Waters , Herald

A firm but fair biography of a footballing legend

—— Guardian

Do we really need another biography of Sir Alex Ferguson?...the answer is unequivocally in the affirmative

—— Independent on Sunday

You'll be hard-pressed to find a book that will tell you as much about the intimidating character and gives such a revealing insight into the legend of British football that is Sir Alex Ferguson

—— Football Fan Cast

Best Sports Biography of the Year

—— Metro

An extraordinary and powerful cautionary cry.

—— Kirkus

Brilliant. . . one of the most unnerving books you will ever read

—— Newsweek

Buford creates with the majesty of a Tom Wolfe the ultimate price paid by so many for this footballing fever - the Hillsborough disaster, recalled with electrifying eloquence and power

—— Time Out

A grotesque, horrifying, repellent and gorgeous book; A Clockwork Orange come to life.

—— John Gregory Dunne

A very readable, often funny, book.

—— The Economist

His prose is tough and vivid

—— ID

Buford pushes the possibilities of participatory journalism to a disturbing degree . . . Among the Thugs does severe damage to the conventional wisdom that England and Europe are bastions of civilization.

—— New York Times

Buford's book is important in that it offers a far more compelling explanation for the football violence than any offered by the pundits of Left and Right . . . Had Buford's account been written by a tabloid reporter or an academic sociologist it might be more easily dismissed. That is comes from a highly intelligent observer, and a neutral outsider with no axe to grind, makes his book all the more powerful and yet troubling.

—— Michael Crick , Independent

Buford’s accounts of the thugs he moved with are by turns amazing, repugnant, stunning, horrid and exhilarating.

—— Howler

The defining book on England’s hooliganism

—— Simon Parkin , Guardian

Previous Article：Johnners' Trivia Test Match Next Article：Sport

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.