Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Ultra
- Narrated by: Adam Bromley
- Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
Buy Now for £13.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
Italy's ultras are the most organised and violent fans in European football. Many groups have evolved into criminal gangs, involved in ticket-touting, drug-dealing and murder. A cross between the Hells Angels and hooligans, they're often the foot-soldiers of the Mafia and have been instrumental in the rise of the far-right. But the purist ultras say that they are insurgents fighting against a police state and modern football.
Only amongst the ultras, they say, can you find belonging, community and a sacred concept of sport. They champion not just their teams, they say, but their forgotten suburbs and the dispossessed. Through the prism of the ultras Jones crafts a compelling investigation into Italian society and its favourite sport.
He writes about not just the ultras of some of Italy's biggest clubs - Juventus, Torino, Lazio, Roma and Genoa - but also about its lesser-known ones from Cosenza and Catania. He examines the sinister side of football fandom, with its violence and political extremism, but also admires the passion, wit, solidarity and style of a fascinating and contradictory subculture.
What listeners say about Ultra
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 09-10-19
Interesting insight into the Ultra world
Well narrated insight into the Ultra world on and off the terraces and around the cities in Italy.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr S J Marczycha
- 22-02-22
Deep insight
Tobias manages to really get to the heart of the ultra with his time at Cosenza - far beyond the headlines and usual journalistic castigation of the ultras. Not to say they are not very unsavoury characters at times. The Cosenza stories, interspersed with other tales from around Italy over the decades make for a good balance. Really enjoyed it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rossano Nocera
- 01-04-21
Brilliant listen & read
I’d read this book when it came out, as I’m a massive fan of Tobias’ writings.
It’s a great read, but I’d say the audible version is an even better listen!
The narrator really brings the characters to life and the narration flows along so smoothly.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Declan Boyle
- 18-11-23
Well researched
This book is really well researched and gives a shocking insight into the world of the ultra’s.. I found the recording quality was a little muffled, not enough to put me off listening to it, it’s just not crystal clear but it’s definitely listenable .. don’t let that put you off it’s very good
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Paul Flannigan
- 08-06-23
Incredible book.
The best book I’ve ever read on this subject. An absolute must for football fans and anyone else for that matter.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Zazafraz
- 20-07-24
A unique insight into a unique culture.
Italian fans and Ultras has a certain passion you can not find other places. It helped to giving a more intense certain look by keeping to a handful of Ultras groups and clubs, and going into details to the people surrounding them. A great both judgmental and nonjudgmental look at certain actions and decisions, while giving great in-depth background details to explain it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 23-06-21
Excellent
For anyone who has an interest in football, fandom, politics, Italy, fanaticism or the curious nature of the most vociferous groups...have a read/listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- James Erwin
- 15-03-21
Engrossing, Peculiar, Well Worth It
Fantastic book - fascinating context, great anecdotes. Sometimes haunting, sometimes sad, sometimes infuriating. Always interesting.
My only small criticism of the audiobook was the narrator’s chosen pronunciation of “Serie A”. Seemed curious to mix the Italian and English in that case - particularly as most listeners will be familiar with it as “Serie Ah”
Didn’t ruin it by any stretch but worth bringing up!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- mr j j craggy
- 22-07-24
Balanced insights
Learned a lot about the Italian ultra scene. Writer was fully immersed in the world and expressed himself eloquently.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Marc
- 27-06-23
One of the best Audio Books I’ve listened to!
Amazing work, really interesting journey through the last 30 odd years of Italian culture!
Interesting to see what the author does next, he has gained a new fan here!
Brilliant 🤩
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!