{"product_id":"sport-and-the-making-of-derek-birley-9780719037597","title":"Sport and the Making of Britain","description":"The British love of sport is legendary. In this lively and stimulating book Derek Birley looks at the part it played in shaping British society. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe book traces the development of sporting conventions from medieval chivalry to modern notions of sportsmanship and fair play. Particular sports from hunting and the tournament to ball-games and athletics are shown against the social background of the emerging nation. The first laws of favourite pastimes such as horse-racing, cricket and boxing were devised by the privileged for gambling purposes, but were enthusiastically followed by the lower orders for pleasure and profit. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAmongst the topics explored are the changing fortunes and fashions in field sports, 'gentlemen and players' in cricket, the public school games cult, purity in amateur rowing, the urban middle-class discovery of lawn tennis and golf, and the 'north-south divide' in football. These social issues are cross-threads in the theme of sport's influence on national identity, patriotism and imperialism in the making of Britain. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRemarkable in its scope and in its linking of sport to the changing social political scene, this is a splendidly readable history.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Derek Birley\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 071903759X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780719037597\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Manchester University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/21\/1993\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 358\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.15lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.77d","brand":"Derek Birley","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48447758958847,"sku":"9780719037597","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_ddbfdbc6-bdff-4d6e-9332-4d1581917bfa.jpg?v=1777234614","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/sport-and-the-making-of-derek-birley-9780719037597","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}