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Post by dem bones on Jul 14, 2020 8:01:00 GMT
Sclater Street, Sunday gone. 50p. Maybe it's time to enquire if the Priory offer treatment to we of dangerously out of control Haining habit. Way things are going, the day will come when the grisly likes of For Mother with Love: Her Special Book or the truly unspeakable The Wizards of Odd: Comic Tales of Fantasy seem 'must have' .... Peter Haining [ed.] - LBW: Laughter Before Wicket - 100 Years of Humorous Cricket Short Stories (Unwin, 1987: originally Unwin, 1986) Peter Haining - Introduction
J. M. Barrie - The Feelings of a Bowler
Anthony Trollope - The Great Britannula Game
Horace Hutchinson - The Rustic Heroes
Alfred Cochrane - The Talisman
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - The Story of Spedegue’s Dropper
E. W. Hornung - A Bowler’s Innings
P. G. Wodehouse - Playing the Game
E. V. Lucas - An Indian Cricket Tutor
Eden Phillpotts - A West Indian Cricket Match
A. A. Milne - A Scratch Lot
E. B. V. Christian - The Umpire’s Remorse
Stacy Aumonier - The Match
Ben Travers - A Buffer’s Wicket
Harry Graham - Biffin on Acquaintances
Hugh de Selincourt - How Our Village Beat the Australians
W. A. Darlington - The Guardian Angel
Lord Dunsany - How Jembu Played for Cambridge
A. P. Herbert - Cricket in the Caucasus, or, The Volga Batman
A. G. Macdonell - Dingley Dell v. All-Muggleton
Ian Hay - French Cricket
Stephen Leacock - Cricket for Americans
Bernard Hollowood - The Seasonable Twinge
Michael Parkinson - Tripping O’Er the Greensward
John Arlott - Ain’t Half a Bloody Game
Leslie Thomas - Daffodil Summer
Peter Tinniswood - The Test in Witney Scrotum
Ian Wooldridge - The Wizzerd of Oz Blurb: J.M. Barrie, Anthony Trollope, P.G. Wodehouse, A.A. Milne and Ben Travers. These are all famous literary figures, but what else do they have in common? Laughter Before Wicket reveals a surprising fact - they were all cricket writers and unashamed enthusiasts.
In this anthology of amusing. frivolous and serious stories about cricket, based on the editor's conversations with John Arlot, Peter Haining has drawn together a host of commentators on the subject ranging from nineteenth century children's writers to contemporary TV figures such as Michael Parkinson.
With informative introductions to each writer and their story, the anthology is a delight to read and a charming book to have - for the dedicated cricketer and the devoted fan. This anthology has something for everyone. Includes; Lord Dunsany - How Jembu Played for Cambridge: ( The Graphic, Christmas 1928). It's Jembu's ambition to play for the University cricket XI, but hopeless batting holds him back until, accompanied by Jorkens, he returns to Mount Kenya to consult the witch-doctor. The magic man successfully appeals to the god, Mungo, on his client's behalf. Henceforth, Jembu will be guaranteed a generous fifty runs per innings, but should he exceed the half century, the entire tribe will he harshly penalised. As narrated by the shameless raconteur, Joseph Jorkens. Alfred Cochrane - The Talisman: ( The Cornhill Magazine, 1896). Cresswell, a man of multiple superstitions, hits a dreadful slump in form. Miss May Harrison attempts to remedy the situation by gifting him an intimate item of her clothing. Will the lucky charm improve his game? |
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Post by andydecker on Jul 14, 2020 9:35:15 GMT
You are still missing the War books he did. 
I looked him up on the seller Worldofbooks and found some interesting books. The Spitfire Log looks interesting, or World War II Stories. Another one really seems interesting. The Norfolk Broads: The Golden Years. But it is a bit expensive for just a sampling. The Compleat Birdman just seemed to be odd, though. Not to mention The Walls of Illusion: A Psychedelic Retro, whatever this is. When did the man sleep?
LBW was successful enough to merit a sequel. Laughter Before Wicket: The Second Innings
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Post by dem bones on Jul 14, 2020 12:40:20 GMT
You are still missing the War books he did. I am still missing loads. Not sure I'd really want Mr. H.'s entire output, even were there room enough to store it. The man was possessed! There were also Hole in Fun: A Round of 18 Humorous Golf Stories (WH Allen, 1988) and Hook, Line and Laughter: A Haul of 18 Humorous Fishing Stories (WH Allen, 1988). Which, giving his sporting preference, makes it all the stranger he didn't compile a football equivalent. I guess some might consider A Thousand Afternoons: An Anthology of Bullfighting (Peter Owen, 1970) also qualifies as a 'sport' book. The only War one I've seen is the pictorial record, The Day War Broke Out. |
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Post by cromagnonman on Jul 14, 2020 13:03:36 GMT
You are still missing the War books he did. I am still missing loads. Not sure I'd really want Mr. H.'s entire output, even were there room enough to store it. The man was possessed! There were also Hole in Fun: A Round of 18 Humorous Golf Stories (WH Allen, 1988) and Hook, Line and Laughter: A Haul of 18 Humorous Fishing Stories (WH Allen, 1988). Which, giving his sporting preference, makes it all the stranger he didn't compile a football equivalent. I guess some might consider A Thousand Afternoons: An Anthology of Bullfighting (Peter Owen, 1970) also qualifies as a 'sport' book. The only War one I've seen is the pictorial record, The Day War Broke Out. Kev, I presume this goes without saying but you are surely the proud owner of Mr H's magnum opus THE TRACTION ENGINE COMPANION, are you not? |
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Post by andydecker on Jul 14, 2020 13:04:00 GMT
Here are a few of those for sale, pictures courtesy of WoB.
There is really something for everyone here. |
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Post by andydecker on Jul 14, 2020 13:12:39 GMT
And two others which I missed the first time and are too good to be left out.
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Post by cromagnonman on Jul 14, 2020 13:15:16 GMT
And two others which I missed the first time and are too good to be left out.
Did someone say my name? This one is my (not so) guilty pleasure:  |
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Post by dem bones on Jul 15, 2020 7:11:09 GMT
Kev, I presume this goes without saying but you are surely the proud owner of Mr H's magnum opus THE TRACTION ENGINE COMPANION, are you not? Alas, this grail of grails has eluded me. Apparently, LTC Rolt is among the contributors. Anyone know if Robert Bloch's Under the Horns made the bullfight anthology? |
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Post by dem bones on May 18, 2021 19:33:03 GMT
While we're all in sporty mood ... Peter Haining [ed.] - Hole in Fun: A Round of 18 Humorous Golf Stories (W. H. Allen, 1988). Peter Haining - Foreword
William Graham - A Tale of Golf
Andrew Lang - The Chelah’s Round
Charles Deulin - The Devil’s Round
J. M. Barrie - A Braid Hills Mystery
C. L. Graves & E. V. Lucas - The Culbin Game
Henry Leach - Colonel Belcher’s Ghost Story
Gerald Batchelor - A One-Ball Match
Harry Graham - Retired Golf
A. J. Coles - Jan Plays Golf
A. G. Macdonell - Beginner’s Luck [Extract]
Ring Lardner - A Caddy’s Diary
Stephen Leacock - A Medieval Hole in One
George C. Nash - Wartime Golf
A. A. Milne - An Unlucky Golfer
P. G. Wodehouse - Those in Peril on the Tee
A. P. Herbert - Is a Golfer a Gentleman?
Ben Travers - The Temptation of Admiral Juddy
Paul Gallico - A Heavenly Round
Sir Henry Rider Haggard - Golf for Duffers
Bernard Darwin - Laughter on the Links
Terry Wogan - Man Who Has Discovered the Secret Blurb: Undoubtedly one of the best weapons in a golfer’s armoury is — a sense of humour. And though the golfing prowess of many of the writers in this volume may vary, alongside the woods and irons in their golf bag they all pack a keen eye for the funny side of the game.
In Hole In Fun Peter Haining has assembled a classic collection of golf stories by some of the finest writers who have ever cast a humorous glance at their favourite sport. His team, now assembled upon the tee, includes such renowned masters of the comic as P.G Wodehouse and Stephen Leacock, creators of children’s classics like J. M. Barrie and A. A. Milne, the great adventure writer Rider Haggard, the farceur Ben Travers, the Americans Paul Gallico and Ring Lardner — and that ubiquitous man of our time, Terry Wogan.
Golf may be, as Mark Twain said, ‘a good walk spoiled’, but it exerts a powerful fascination upon those who have fallen under its spell both out on the course — and on the page. For, when the greens are flooded, or the club-house is closed, a reader can still enjoy a Hole In Fun. |
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