Product Description

Published to accompany a major exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, Sporting Heroes charts the popular image of the British sporting hero in works of art dating from the 18th century to the present day. Contemporary heroes and heroines, including Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis, are brought together with their earlier counterparts such as the 19th-century pugilist Tom Cribb; with - among many others - cricketers from W.G. Grace to Ian Botham; footballers from Sir Stanley Matthews to Bobby Charlton and Gary Lineker; and athletes from Roger Bannister to Linford Christie, Sally Gunnell and Fatima Whitbread. Illustrated throughout with paintings, drawings, sculpture, prints, photographs and multimedia works, the book also includes many images from private collections. It is both a celebration of the role of sport in popular culture and a fascinating history of how that role developed.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #653424 in Books
• Published on: 1998-10-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 239 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Debate is always at the centre of any discussion on sporting heroes, and one thing you will be promised in The Book of British Sporting Heroes is a little bit of disagreement--not because Huntingdon-Whiteley has got it wrong, but because it is one subject on which fans can never agree.

Starting with the 18th-century aristocrats who excelled in pugilism and horse riding, the book (which accompanied a National Portrait Gallery exhibition of the same name) goes through all eras of sporting prowess from then to the present day.

Football obviously gets many entries--from George Best, Bobby Robson and Bobby Moore through to Gascoigne, Giggs and Shearer--but as notable as those that are listed are those that aren't. Michael Owen probably shot to fame too late for publication, but David Beckham is conspicuous by his absence.

Other sports also have strong representation. Heroes of cricket, rugby, tennis, boxing, even ice skating (whose status as a sport is a debate in itself!) grace the pages of this wonderfully illustrated and impeccably produced book.

Rather light on heroines, the inclusion of Sally Gunnell, Tessa Sanderson and Kitty Godfree (and the few other women) only reinforces their prowess in an area in which it is traditionally difficult for females to find recognition.

An ambitious project, this wonderful reference book (each entry is accompanied by a short precis of the person's career and many have photographs or pictures too) pulls off the difficult balance between past and present; information and interest; skill and stardom. A must for true British sport fans, this book will inspire arguments for years to come. --Lucie Naylor

Synopsis
Charting the popular image of the British sporting hero, this text presents works of art dating from the 18th century to the end of the 20th century. It is arranged in dictionary format and combines individual biographies, celebrity contributions, fact panels and interactive elements.

Customer Reviews

An efficient little book
This book should be present on all sports fans bookshelves. It touches upon many different issues which have effected many of Britains sporting heroes. We in this country are proud of our sporting history and love the heroes which have represented Britain like family. This book gives facts, dates, pictures, and relevant information about particular performances worthy of heroes.Well worth reading whatever the age or reason. A book that makes the nation have a reason to be proud.