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This Sporting Life

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This Sporting Life

Written by: David Storey
Narrated by: Stephen McGann
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About this listen

 In post war Britiain a new writing style emerged from the bleak times. It was commonly known as "kitchen sink drama". That sounds a little disrespectful now, perhaps, but these stories brought realism and raw emotion to their readers.

David Storey's This Sporting Life, set in the industrial north, brilliantly conveys 21-year-old steelworker Arthur Machin's love of his rugby league, his success on the field, and his feelings towards his widowed landlady, as well as his bouts of doubt and anxiety.

Stephen McGann perfectly captures the mood and the character in his reading.

©2008 Copyright Group (P)2008 Horse's Mouth Fiction Genre Fiction
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Good original novel made novela

No detracting from the power of Storey's original and you can find many on line plaudits including a review in the Guardian on the 50th anniversary of the book's publication by Frank Keating.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2010/dec/01/this-sporting-life-david-storey
Said by many to be one of the best novels on sport ever written etc, etc. I'm sure this is true.
Yes, there is a "but" coming.
But, I think this must have been an abridged radio version as the chapters are interrupted by two sets of jarring theme music (a slightly inappropriate jazz number more appropriate for a Raymond Chandler book). Much of the power of the description of the brutality of the rugby is missing. The narrator, Stephen McGann, does a good job with the West Riding accent considering he is a scouser and overall does extremely well differentiating the various characters voices. Frankly, I would seek out the original book from your friendly local second hand bookstore and/or watch the Lindsay Anderson film.

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