
The Stakes Were High
The Extraordinary Life of John Gully, from Bruiser and Bookie to Fine Old English Gentleman
Keith Baker(Author)
Pitch Publishing Ltd
Will be published approx. on 26. June 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-1-78531-292-2 (ISBN)
Description
The son of a poor butcher, John Gully rose to the height of Victorian respectability, whose death in ripe old age was mourned by all classes from paupers to princes. It's the story of an extraordinarily varied life - a bare knuckle fighter and champion of England, a publican, a hugely successful gambler, bookmaker, racehorse and colliery owner, and finally a Member of Parliament. Set at a time when fortunes were won and lost on the turn of a dice, Gully saw the greed and corruption, the rogues and rascals. Remarkable sporting characters of the age feature, such as William Crockford, the Betting Shark; the chivalrous prize fighter Henry Pearce; the mighty Tom Cribb, bare knuckle champion of the world; and Colonel Mellish, prolific gambler and finest of the Corinthians. Enemies saw Gully as a cunning man, a schemer who corrupted the betting world. To others he was a man with impeccable judgement and integrity, to whom royalty would trust their fortunes. The Stakes Were High is the fascinating story of his life.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Hove
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
204 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78531-292-2 (9781785312922)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Keith Baker
The Stakes Were High
The Extraordinary Life of John Gully, from Bruiser and Bookie to Fine Old English Gentleman
E-Book
06/2017
Pitch Publishing Ltd
€11.99
Available for download
Person
Keith Baker is a former senior civil servant, and an historian and sports devotee. Educated at Aberystwyth University and the London School of Economics, in recent years he has had books published on The Fathers of Football and The 1908 London Olympics. He is married with three children and lives in Sheffield in England.