Harold Gimblett: Tormented Genius of Cricket

Octavo; hardcover; brown boards with gilt spine titling; 175pp., with many monochrome illustrations. Minor wear; text block top edge faintly spotted. Near fine in like dustwrapper (now professionally protected by superior non-adhesive polypropylene film). Postage quoted is for a standard format octavo book. Final charges may vary depending on size and weight. "David Foot has subtitled Harold Gimblett "Tormented Genius of Cricket" and his biography justifies it. This is no cosy recital of runs or wickets, of comfortable success; but of the mental agony of one man who, despite his outstanding cricket gifts, never gained the satisfaction they seemed to offer. Mr Foot is an experienced journalist; and, just as this is not a comfortable book, neither is it a sentimental one. In a way it is an autobiography, for the man recorded much of his agony and indecision on tapes. There is no other book like it in cricket literature; no one else has ever gone - or honestly attempted to go - down into the pit with a cricketer. Because it is so honest, because it has a tragic and not a happy ending, this may never be a "popular" book; but it is fine, compassionate and wise. Mr Foot deserves the admiration and thanks of all who care for human truth in a game which does not always face facts." - John Arlott, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1983.