Book Review: The Englishman by Tim Brooks

My first reaction on receiving this book was one of surprise. Pitch Publishing, long-established as publishers of excellent sports nonfiction, moving into the realms of fiction, albeit with a sporting theme? Yes and to very good effect.

Tim Brooks follows the journey of an Edwardian cricketing prodigy with the world at his feet, who leaves university to defend all he holds dear – only to find himself in the ranks of the lost generation in the war to end all wars.

The author has written three previous books, all of them well received , including the excellent Bat Maker of Copenhagen, based on the true story of a World War Two cricketing hero.

In this one, the theme bears similarities to The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje, with the central character badly wounded and with no recollection of his life before the war or how he came to be on the island of Corfu.

Yet it is in the sketching of that previous life that the book finds its strength. Real life cricketers flit across the pages, such as Phil Mead, CB Fry and Jack Hearne, brought vividly to life by a writer who clearly knows his cricket from the passages of play described herein.

So too in the descriptions of Edwardian life, Oxford gentility and the idyllic setting of Corfu and its long history of cricket. It can and will be enjoyed by those who want a hugely entertaining story, as well as those who come across it for the cricket content.

As I reached the final pages, I was certain that this book could easily translate to a mini series, or to a film itself. To replicate the quality of the prose here would be a challenge, while the in game footage would need to be realistic enough to convince cricket fans of its authenticity. But as myriad successful books and films have shown, there is great interest in the Edwardian era and the privileged lives of society's higher echelons.

This is a hugely enjoyable read that I rattled through in just a couple of days. Then wanted to start again. When that happens, you know you have just read something special.

Well done Tim Brooks and well done Pitch Publishing. This is a beautiful story, expertly told and if there is any justice it will sell in large quantities.

The Englishman is written by Tim Brooks and published by Pitch Publishing.