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Harold Larwood

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Harold Larwood

By: Duncan Hamilton
Narrated by: Alex Jennings
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About this listen

Harold Larwood is an England cricketing legend. During the MCC’s notorious 1932–3 Ashes tour of Australia, his ‘Bodyline’ bowling left Australia’s batsmen bruised and battered, halved the batting average of the great Don Bradman – and gave England a 4–1 series victory.

But the diplomatic row that followed brought Anglo-Australian relations to the brink of collapse. Larwood was used as a scapegoat by the MCC, which demanded he apologise for bowling Bodyline. Arguing that he had simply obeyed the instructions of his captain, Douglas Jardine, Larwood refused. He never played for England again.

The Bodyline saga has been told before, but Larwood’s story has not. Using materials provided by the fast bowler’s family, Duncan Hamilton has created an intimate and compelling portrait of Larwood’s life: from his mining village upbringing, through the trauma of 1932–3 and its bitter aftermath, to his emigration to Australia, where he and his family found happiness.

A moving recreation of the triumph, betrayal and redemption of a working-class hero, Harold Larwood will enthral not only cricket fans, but all those who relish biographical writing of the highest quality.

©2009 Quercus Publishing PLC (P)2010 Quercus Publishing PLC Cricket Sports Celebrity England

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All stars
Most relevant
Whilst it is a yesteryear story it is a fantastic story. Any cricket lover will enjoy the story. The narration was fantastic too.

One of the best

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A wonderful description of a remarkable life!
Duncan Hamilton captures the life of one of England’s greatest cricketers and worthy winner of Sports Book of the year.

Excellent

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A wonderful book that I've been quick to buy for any friend who loves cricket. The performance too is faultless and makes the characters (almost all long dead) leap to life.

Hamilton brings together a rich, emotive portrait of both a defining moment and the broader sweep of life. It is incredibly humane and moving.

An astonishingly brilliant book

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If you love cricket and are intrigued by the "Bodyline" test series then I expect you have already bought this title and have loved it as much as I have. But even if you are not a fan of the game you should consider this book. Duncan Hamilton's writing captures both the man and the times in which he lived to perfection. Larwood is clearly Hamilton's hero and by the end of the book I suspect he will be yours too. The character traits that made Larwood the best bowler in the world and also contributed to his downfall - single-mindedness, personal humility and sheer hard work - are beautifully drawn. You can almost smell the sweat in the changing rooms and feel the fear of the incoming batsman as Larwood flew into bowl. It shows how the world of sport has changed beyond recognition. How many county bowlers would be prepared to walk seven miles to the county ground, bowl all day and then walk back again? The text is wonderfully served by Alex Jennings who captures the class-ridden world of 1920' and 1930's cricket perfectly with his voice characterisation. I cannot recommend this recording enough.

A wonderful book, superbly read.

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If you could sum up Harold Larwood in three words, what would they be?

Principled, Stubborn, Right

What other book might you compare Harold Larwood to, and why?

How can one compare a biography?

Have you listened to any of Alex Jennings’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No I haven't but I shall now

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I wanted it to last longer than it did.

Any additional comments?

So much that one could say, but if you are remotely interested in the history of cricket, you simply must read or listen to this book.

A wonderful man of principle

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