One Hell of a Life
Brian Close: Daring, Defiant and Daft
Published on 8. October 2024
Book
Hardback
240 pages
978-1-7399293-6-7 (ISBN)
Description
WISDEN BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR 2024
Brian Close was one of the most remarkable characters of post-war English cricket. Known for his great bravery against fast bowling and for his fearless close fielding, he led both Yorkshire and England with great success, yet in controversial circumstances he was sacked both times from the captaincy.
In 'One Hell of a Life', Stephen Chalke draws on conversations over the past 25 years, both with Brian Close himself and with team-mates, opponents and family, many of them, like Close, no longer living.
The result is a fascinating portrait of an unusual man, one who might have reached greater heights if he had adopted more of a safety-first approach to life - but then he would not have been Brian Close: daring, defiant and at times daft. An outstanding leader, he lived his life as he drove his cars: fast and reckless, with many a prang along the way.
The story of Brian Close is a tale like no other in cricket, rich with humour but at times hauntingly sad. His loss of the England captaincy is set in the context of the social attitudes of the time, with cricket still run by an amateur class distrustful of a single-minded Yorkshireman who played always to win.
Brian Close was one of the most remarkable characters of post-war English cricket. Known for his great bravery against fast bowling and for his fearless close fielding, he led both Yorkshire and England with great success, yet in controversial circumstances he was sacked both times from the captaincy.
In 'One Hell of a Life', Stephen Chalke draws on conversations over the past 25 years, both with Brian Close himself and with team-mates, opponents and family, many of them, like Close, no longer living.
The result is a fascinating portrait of an unusual man, one who might have reached greater heights if he had adopted more of a safety-first approach to life - but then he would not have been Brian Close: daring, defiant and at times daft. An outstanding leader, he lived his life as he drove his cars: fast and reckless, with many a prang along the way.
The story of Brian Close is a tale like no other in cricket, rich with humour but at times hauntingly sad. His loss of the England captaincy is set in the context of the social attitudes of the time, with cricket still run by an amateur class distrustful of a single-minded Yorkshireman who played always to win.
Reviews / Votes
"I have not enjoyed a cricket book so much in years." - Matthew Engel, New Statesman."Beautifully written, as are all books by Stephen Chalke, pacy and well-structured." - Chris Waters, Yorkshire Post.
"A fascinating and highly relevant biography." - Scyld Berry, Daily Telegraph.
"Informative and thought provoking throughout, often amusing and at other times quite moving, it does its subject proud. It does cricket proud too." - Ned Holt, Yorkshire Southern Members newsletter.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Bath
United Kingdom
Illustrations
26 illustrations; 26 illustrations; 26 illustrations; 26 illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 241 mm
Width: 164 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
602 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-7399293-6-7 (9781739929367)
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
Person
Stephen Chalke is the author of more than twenty cricket books, six of which have won national Book of the Year awards. In 2019 the Cricket Writers' Club honoured him with the prestigious Peter Smith Award for his 'outstanding contribution to the presentation of cricket to the public'.