Born this day in 1931, Mordecai Richler (1931-2001), a prominent figure on the Canadian literary landscape for more than 40 years after the 1959 publication of his breakthrough novel, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. Richler was much more than just a popular novelist, however; as a prolific contributor to magazines, movies, and childrens literature, Richler probably reached a broader audience than any contemporary Canadian writer. His blunt words on Canadian political affairs also made Richler a household name throughout the country, particularly for his unsparing criticism of the ongoing battles over Quebec sovereignty. His description of the conflict as Canadas longest running opera bouffe, a far from life-and-death struggle over the size of English lettering and outdoor commercial signs in Montreal, in a 1999 Stanley Knowles Lecture at the University of Waterloo was just a sampling of Richlers disdain for the separatist forces in his native province. Among his many writings is this book on snooker. This look at the game of snooker begins with the authors own experiences as a teenage pool-room hustler in Montreal and his addiction to the game ever since, leading into a history of the game from its beginnings in the 19th century. He explores the bad boys of snooker, from Alex Higgins to Ronnie OSullivan, as well as fellow-countrymen CLiff Thorburn and Kirk Stevens, but the central figure of the book is Stephen Hendry. In addition, Richler visits the craftsmen who make the champions cues, the agents who control the sport and the groupies who follow the circuit to try and get close to the millionaire players. You can pick up a used copy on amazon for a couple of bucks.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 13:44:09 +0000
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