A seaman himself, Lundy interpolates his own experiences under sail, nicely contrasting modern-day standards and mindsets with 19th-century conditions and attitudes

Lundy, too, has saltwater in his blood and his knowledge of the most arcane seafaring terms and traditions, coupled with careful research on 19th-century square-rigger voyages, makes this a tremendously elucidating, frequently thrilling read-he writes with verve and authority

With this book Lundy leaps into the front ranks of maritime historians

An exceptionally rich and satisfying weave. Hoisting sail aboard his ship Beara Head in 1885, Lundy sails her on an enthralling voyage through maritime literature, history, sociology and folklore... Heir to the tradition of Dana, Melville and Conrad

Excellent... Lundy has researched the subject deeply and writes about it with feeling... Powerful, convincing and enthralling

Rangeley-Wilson is widely held to be one of the best angling wirters in the country... Adventurous, entertaining and at times bizarre, these stories encompass a vast range of places, people and fish and are enormous fun. The ideal gift for any angler

A characteristically jaunty romp through the history of the game

Excellent... an irreverent, entertaining resume of cricket's long history

A priceless read ... quite outstanding

If you haven't bought Tom English's book about the 1990 match - The Grudge - then do yourself a favour and get it now. It's terrific

Tom English's excellent book, The Grudge, revisits an occasion when sport and politics and ancient rivalry came together

True tales: great stuff

Shudderingly good ... English has a rare talent for getting to the core of a person

Thatcherite politics and rugby come crashing into contact in this rich and textured account

The perfect present for any rugby fan. It shows the goldfish-bowl aspect to life as a modern-day sporting legend and gives an insight into what it's like on the inside looking out

Whether you are a rugby fan or not, this book is likely to please... This honest autobiography will provide an intriguing read for the Christmas period

Compelling reading