It is worth noting at this point that “Beyond a Boundary” is not a book written for the masses. This quote serves as the basis for James to critique the game of cricket with the historical and political role that the sport has undertaken in the ongoing development of the West Indian islands. Many people will have read the defining quote of the book “ What do they know of cricket who only cricket know“. James was close friends with the great Learie Constantine, and he recounts personal encounters with Constantine, and other famous cricketers of the day including George Headley, George John and Wilton St Hill. Into this mix, James commences his analysis of West Indian society and politics. The book is partly autobiographical, and James begins “Beyond a Boundary” with his family history, his childhood and school years. “Beyond a Boundary” is a combination of a personal memoir, an examination of the social history of the West Indies, and a commentary on the role of cricket within the Caribbean islands.

As such, I thought it worthy of a re-review. Over the years since its publication, “Beyond a Boundary” has been nominated by many readers as the greatest book ever written about sport, but it now seems to be popular to criticise it. Over all this time, James’ love of cricket remained undiminished, and he is now best remembered for his 1963 book, “Beyond a Boundary”. James returned to his birthplace, and was a leading figure in the development of independence in the West Indies. Over the following years, he spent significant time in both England and the United States, and wrote prolifically on Marx, Lenin and Trotsky. He moved to England at age 31 in order to further his writing aspirations, and gained a reputation as a social theorist.

As a child, he grew up observing and playing with many of the great players in the early days of West Indian cricket. (Cyril Lionel Robert) James was born in Trinidad and Tobago on the 4th of January 1901. Beyond a Boundary Stuart Wark | 12:00am GMT 09 December 2007Ĭ.L.R.

Beyond the boundary cricket book