by Mayukh Ghosh
Stephen Chalke needs no introduction.
No. Wait. I think he needs one.
Not many who are not deep into cricket books know about him.
Not many know about Fairfield Books and the books they have published.
He usually writes about county cricket in the 1950s and 60s. He has not written about the big names like Peter May, Brian Statham, Ted Dexter and Ken Barrington. Instead, he has written on Tom Cartwright, Keith Andrew, Bob Appleyard and Micky Stewart.
Naturally, he failed to find a publisher when he wrote his first book Runs in the Memory.
He himself became one and went ahead. Many of his books went on to win prestigious awards and all of them were thoroughly deserving candidates.
No one, in my opinion, captured the essence of English cricket during the immediate Post-World War II years better than him.
He retired in 2019. Thankfully, not from writing. But from publishing.
This obviously is not good enough an introduction but, for that, one needs to read his books.
When I requested him for a list of his favourite cricket books, he took a few days of time. And then came the response:
I have just spent a pleasant hour among my cricket books, trying to come up with a list of ten favourites.
It’s a bit of a random exercise.
I have largely ignored recent books as I have not lived with them long enough for them to become favourites.
I have picked the books that most often I go back to and enjoy.
They tend to be about English cricket, mostly a little set back in time.
Above all, I have chosen them for the quality of the writing.
Ten of them.
Here they are: (The purchase links are provided. Just click on the associated picture))
Hit Hard and Enjoy It by Dickie Dodds
“My favourite cricket book, not so much for the religion as for the central chapters in which he captures the rhythm of a county cricketer’s summer. The writing has a lyrical beauty that enchants me every time I pick up the book.”
The West Indies at Lord’s by Alan Ross
“A whole book about one match, the great drawn Test of 1963. Beautifully written by a man who was also a poet.”
How to Win at Cricket by EM Rose
“A superb captaincy manual for those of us who play our cricket at a lower level than Mike Brearley – though his book, ‘The Art of Captaincy’, is also excellent.”
Growing Up With Cricket by Alan Gibson
“Alan Gibson was a wonderful talent, who could have done much more with his life than write about cricket. I could pick any of his books, but this one – mixing autobiography with cricketing history – is my favourite.”
Beyond Bat and Ball by David Foot
“Again, like Alan Gibson, I could pick any of his books, but this one – a set of essays – is especially fine. He is so good at bringing old cricketers alive.”
A Season in Sinji by JL Carr
“A novel set in West Africa during the Second World War. My favourite cricket novel by one of my favourite modern novelists.”
Arthur Wellard by Harold Pinter
“I don’t know if this counts, as it’s just the script of a 15-minute radio talk. It appears in ‘Various Voices’, an anthology of Pinter’s writing, and never fails to captivate me. Pinter had such a wonderful ear.”
Cricket Prints by RC Robertson Glasgow
“Robertson Glasgow was the master of the short character sketch. Drawing from his experience of playing with and against his subjects, he goes to the heart of them as men and as cricketers in so few words. Brilliant.”
Life Beyond the Airing Cupboard by John Barclay
“Am I allowed to choose a book I have published? I love John’s writing: his self-deprecating humour, his warm humanity and the layers that lie below the surface.”
Sherlock Holmes and the Birth of the Ashes by Arunabha Sengupta
“The best new cricket book I have read for years. Such a wonderfully creative idea and executed so well. The cricket history is spot on, and the ending – which I should have seen coming – was a joy.”
“That’s my ten. I am sorry not to include anything by Frank Keating or Peter Roebuck.”
Stephen Chalke considered Bomber Wells as a dear friend. Bomber was one for exaggerations. Chalke never endorsed those apocryphal stories, but he understood the essence of the tales and respected Bomber’s views.
No wonder he has used his sound judgement to choose some wonderfully written books.
All I can say is:
Read the books chosen by him.
Read the books written by him.
Read the books published by him.
