The Story Of An African Game: Black Cricketers And ..., South Africa 1850-2003. - by A Odendaal

The Story Of An African Game: Black Cricketeers And The Unmasking Of One Of Crickets Greatests Myths, South Africa  1850-2003.
Andre Odendaal

Foreward by Nelson Mandela

THE STORY OF AN AFRICAN GAME is a ground-breaking book, the first to cover in detail the history and experiences of black African cricketers in South Africa. It is long overdue, coming 195 years after the first recorded game of cricket in this country was played at the Green Point Common, Cape Town, in 1808.

Drawing on rare 19th century African-language newspaper sources, family photo albums and extensive interviews, author Professor Andre Odendaal provides an intimate account of a rich cricketing culture that began with the establishment of the first black mission school cricket sides and clubs in the 1850s and 1860S, long before Johannesburg and many of South Africas famous cricketing schools have been founded. He demonstrates that, contrary to popular perceptions, this tradition is in many ways as vibrant and as deeply rooted as any other in the former British colonies, including India, Australia and the Caribbean. While studious attention is paid to historical detail, the passion felt for the game by those who played it is vividly brought to life from the inter-town tournaments and village cricket of the 1880s, the formation of the first national bodies in the 1900s, through the golden period of the sport in the townships in the 1950s and the bitter struggles of the 1980s to unity, transformation and the 2003 World Cup.
Against this dramatic back drop emerges the story of a remarkably family -the Majolas of New Brighton, Port Elizabeth who exemplified the deep commitments and unshakeable sense of community that sustained African sport during the apartheid years.
This is a book that will forever change the way we look at South Africa's cricket history and help us understand where the game is heading in the future.

    Hardcover, in Very Good to Fine condition.
    Brown boards, with gilded titles on spine. Corners all intact, lightly shelf rubbed. Edges are shelf rubbed but good.
    Dust Jacket has some scuff marks and marks, lightly shelf rubbed. Corners shelf rubbed. Top edge slightly bent. Covered in a protective Brodart book cover.                       
    Published by David Philip Publishers (2003)
    Jacket Condition: Good to Very Good
    Binding Condition: Very Good to Fine.
    Overall Condition: Very Good to Fine.
    Size: Quarto (332mm X 249mm X 30mm)
 
An essential, important and rare treasure in the history of South Africa.