Cricket book hits Beyond a Boundary
Published: 8 May 2013
One of the most celebrated and influential sports books of modern times is to be the focus of a major conference that will take place at the University of Glasgow.
One of the most celebrated and influential sports books of modern times is to be the focus of a major conference that will take place at the University of Glasgow. It is exactly fifty years since Beyond a Boundary written by the West Indian novelist, critic and historian CLR James, was first published. It is widely regarded as one of the best cricket books ever written.
Beyond a Boundary is a classic sports biography and has been ranked 36th in Sports Illustrated’s list of the greatest 100 sports books and 3rd in the Observer Sports Monthly top 50 sports books. However by James’ own admission, it is about far more than cricket. Developing a concern to understand sport as part of a much wider social and political context (a concern first articulated in his earlier writings for the Glasgow Herald), James’ study is part-autobiography, part-historical study and part-political-call-to-arms written against the backdrop of the decolonisation struggles.
He recounts the story of his overriding passion and tells us of the players whom he knew and loved, exploring the game's psychology and aesthetics, and the issues of class, race and politics that surround it. Part memoir of a West Indian boyhood, part passionate celebration and defense of cricket as an art form, part indictment of colonialism, Beyond a Boundary addresses not just a sport but a whole culture.
The University of Glasgow conference will begin with a film showing on the evening of Thursday 9th May, introduced by the award-winning film maker Mike Dibb and will carry on over Friday 10th and Saturday 11th May, 2013. Already confirmed keynote speakers for the conference are Mike Brearley (former England Test captain and previously President of the British Psychoanalytic Society), Wai Chee Dimock (English, Yale) and Robert A. Hill (UCLA and C.L.R. James’ Literary Executor).
Dr Andrew Smith, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Glasgow said: “This unique event will bring international speakers to Glasgow to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Beyond a Boundary’s publication. It has the intention of both celebrating and questioning, drawing out the book’s intellectual legacies and identifying the issues it leaves unanswered.”
To register or for more information go to www.glasgow.ac.uk/beyondaboundary
For more information contact Cara MacDowall, cara.macdowall@glasgow.ac.uk or call 0141 330 3683
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Dr Andrew Smith, Senior Lecturer in Sociology
First published: 8 May 2013
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