People's History of Tennis
***Longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2020***
***Financial Times, Best Sports Books of 2020***
Pristine lawns, tennis whites, strawberries and cream, tennis is synonymous with the upper echelons of society, but scratch beneath the surface and you'll quickly discover a different history, one of untold struggles on and off the courts.
From the birth of modern tennis in Victorian Britain to the present day, we bear witness to struggles around sexuality, gender, race and class that have transformed the nature of tennis and sport itself. A People's History of Tennis is populated by diverse voices, recounting the sport's gay origins, 'Workers' Wimbledon', battles for gender equality and more.
Going beyond centre court, this book reveals the hidden history of the game, providing a rich account of the challenges faced and victories won.
David Berry is a writer, journalist and filmmaker. He was a documentary director at BBC Television for twenty-five years. He has written about health and leisure for a wide variety of publications including the Guardian, the Mirror, Prospect and the New Statesman. He has been playing tennis since he was eleven years old.