IT'S JUST NOT CRICKET! - HENRY BLOFELD'S CRICKET YEAR.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn. [Complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2.] NFINE/FINE. No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,glossy,wrap-around white background with author/subject portrait,colour photograph to front of dw/dj black-lettered part-title and capitalised black+red-lettered sub-title; spine/backstrip with similarly coloured+lettered title+author name as front,a thumbnail colour portrait photograph as front and publisher's capitalised,black-lettered+illustrated colophon to foot of same,rear panel with 6 critic's black+red-lettered reviews of his published title 'Cakes and Bails'. Negligible shelf-wear,bumping,creasing to edges and corners - no nicks, tears or splits present. Top+fore-edges ubiquitously aged/ toned; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - virtually pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips,appears unread apart from my own collation.Publisher's bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered, original plain black cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt lettering, and immaculate plain white endpapers.UK, 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,9-346pp [paginated] includes 13 chapters,8pp contemporary b/w photographs in 1 block, between pp192/93,Picture Credits and an Index; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,a dedication,a Contents list/table - the latter two named with a blank verso each,and to the rear 4pp blanks. Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional,and particularly internally,the book is also in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation for a book of its near quarter of a century age.It is only the minimal exterior faults described that prevents a slightly higher grading.Despite that,it really is still an exceptional, exemplary example for its cleanliness, brightness and lack of other detracting faults. There is no one quite like Henry Blofeld.His charm and cricket knowledge are unmatched in the game and on the radio airwaves.He is incapable of being dull as he casts his witty and waspish eye over the 1998-1999 cricket year.And it has been an unforgettable year for Henry himself as well as for the game. There was Geoffrey Boycott losing his assault case in the French courts - Blofeld has the full,behind-the-scenes sory; the West Indian team strike; the scandal of match betting which tarnished the reputations of Australians Shane Warne and Mark Waugh; the rumpus on the pitch as Sri Lankan captain Ranatunga marched his players off in protest at the noballing of Muralithian; England' heoric loss of the Ashes in Australia (again,and always gallantly of course); Darren Gough's hat-trick; Brian Lara's incredible resurrection in the West Indies against Australia; and full inside details of the drama,excitement,heroes and villains of the 1999 Cricket World Cup. And Henry tells of how his season nearly came to a tragic halt as he was rushed to hospital with a major heart problem and how,as he was lying in bed three lengthy operations later, Test Match Special was whipped away from the BBC by the predatory Talk Radio.But,as ebullient and as irrepressible as ever,Blowers straight bats these googlies with the zest and high spirits that make him so well loved by cricket fans and ordinary mortals alike. Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence, then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **