3 Review(s)

Harold Larwood, by Duncan Hamilton, is a compelling and intimate account of Larwood’s life. Summary of the Book Larwood was a right-arm fast bowler for England, known for great accuracy and unusual speed and the bowling style called “bodyline”. The style brought an untimely and bitter end to Larwood’s career after the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) tour of Australia in 1932-33, and he never played for England again. Duncan Hamilton, drawing on extensive research and materials provided by the bowler’s family, describes how Larwood was merely used as a scapegoat by the MCC. He was asked to apologize, but the bowler disobeyed, stating that he just obeyed the orders of his captain, Douglas Jardine. Although the ‘bodyline’ saga has been told several times before, this title brings Larwood’s story as not just a cricketer but as an individual who went through trying times throughout his life. This includes his upbringing in a mining village, the trauma of the MCC episode and its consequences, his moving to Australia with the family and several other incidents of triumph, deceit and redemption. About Duncan Hamilton Duncan Hamilton is a renowned British newspaper journalist and author. He was associated with Nottingham Evening Post. He is currently a deputy editor of Yorkshire Post. A two-time winner of the prestigious William Hill Sports Book of the Year award, Hamilton has also authored: Provided You Don’t Kiss Me: 20 Years with Brian Clough.