Beyond a Boundary
A good book, as they say, lies not on its front and back covers but in between the covers. Likewise hitting between the covers is a sight to behold in the game of cricket. One recent read that in a sense ,combines both the above and evokes appreciation is ‘Beyond a boundary ‘ by CLR James, where he talks not only about cricket in the West Indies, its following and development, but the social dimension to this game, which as we in India know is a religion among the masses. The writer has brought the full powers of his acute observation, erudition and love of cricket into play and weaves an engrossing tale around a game, which displays human character at its best and worst. In total he has tried to answer his own question ‘ What do they know of Cricket who only Cricket knows?’
Tracing the game from its early origins in the West indies, where it started as a pastime and recreational sport of the whites who were colonizers, to the budding talent among the blacks, who started of as mere ballboys to the whites, and went on to become legends of the game in their life time, the book speaks of first class cricket in the West Indies, county cricket and test cricket in England, and how cricket influenced society around it and viceversa. All through the book, runs a strong undercurrent of racial discrimination the blacks experienced from time to time in the hands of their fair skinned breathren.He talks about the local clubs whose members were decided on the basis of the colour of their skin-black,brown & white. A person was supposed to have arrived if he moved with people who were light skinned compared to him.
On cricketers, the writer has written at length on his friendship with Learie Constantine, the famous allrounder and past captain of the WestIndian cricket team, as also cricket as played during the Victorian era by the likes of W.G Grace. India’s own Ranjitsinghji, who played for the English team finds mention for his impeccable shots of the back foot. Bradman, Jack Hobbs, Sobers all find mention for their repertoire of strokes. He has also dealt at some length on how strongly people felt when Frank Worrell was overlooked for Captaincy, and the role played by the media and public at large including the writer in setting right the wrong. Some chapters devoted to lesser known batsmen and bowlers from the West indies, who failed to find a place in the national team like Wilton St.Hill,George John etc,inspite of their achievements on the field in first class matches, are highly readable.
The interesting feature of the book is how it manages to link cricket to politics,cricket to society,cricket to character and study these relationships at great depth. This particular aspect of the book,therefore would endear it, not only to cricket lovers, but book lovers in general. The writers love and reading of English literature fully comes through in the elegance of language from his pen. A sample of the memorable lines runs like’ An uncompromising man is one of the most effective works of God’ to ‘The occasion enabled him to add a cubit to his stature.’ etc.
All in all,an unputdownable book,which would rank high among the best written on the sport.
If Neville Cardus is the Bradman among cricket writers, CLR James with this book can rightly be called the Sachin Tendulkar of cricket writing.
A good book, as they say, lies not on its front and back covers but in between the covers. Likewise hitting between the covers is a sight to behold in the game of cricket. One recent read that in a sense ,combines both the above and evokes appreciation is ‘Beyond a boundary ‘ by CLR James, where he talks not only about cricket in the West Indies, its following and development, but the social dimension to this game, which as we in India know is a religion among the masses. The writer has brought the full powers of his acute observation, erudition and love of cricket into play and weaves an engrossing tale around a game, which displays human character at its best and worst. In total he has tried to answer his own question ‘ What do they know of Cricket who only Cricket knows?’
Tracing the game from its early origins in the West indies, where it started as a pastime and recreational sport of the whites who were colonizers, to the budding talent among the blacks, who started of as mere ballboys to the whites, and went on to become legends of the game in their life time, the book speaks of first class cricket in the West Indies, county cricket and test cricket in England, and how cricket influenced society around it and viceversa. All through the book, runs a strong undercurrent of racial discrimination the blacks experienced from time to time in the hands of their fair skinned breathren.He talks about the local clubs whose members were decided on the basis of the colour of their skin-black,brown & white. A person was supposed to have arrived if he moved with people who were light skinned compared to him.
On cricketers, the writer has written at length on his friendship with Learie Constantine, the famous allrounder and past captain of the WestIndian cricket team, as also cricket as played during the Victorian era by the likes of W.G Grace. India’s own Ranjitsinghji, who played for the English team finds mention for his impeccable shots of the back foot. Bradman, Jack Hobbs, Sobers all find mention for their repertoire of strokes. He has also dealt at some length on how strongly people felt when Frank Worrell was overlooked for Captaincy, and the role played by the media and public at large including the writer in setting right the wrong. Some chapters devoted to lesser known batsmen and bowlers from the West indies, who failed to find a place in the national team like Wilton St.Hill,George John etc,inspite of their achievements on the field in first class matches, are highly readable.
The interesting feature of the book is how it manages to link cricket to politics,cricket to society,cricket to character and study these relationships at great depth. This particular aspect of the book,therefore would endear it, not only to cricket lovers, but book lovers in general. The writers love and reading of English literature fully comes through in the elegance of language from his pen. A sample of the memorable lines runs like’ An uncompromising man is one of the most effective works of God’ to ‘The occasion enabled him to add a cubit to his stature.’ etc.
All in all,an unputdownable book,which would rank high among the best written on the sport.
If Neville Cardus is the Bradman among cricket writers, CLR James with this book can rightly be called the Sachin Tendulkar of cricket writing.
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