Soccer in Sun and Shadow, New Edition [Paperback]

Eduardo Galeano (Author), Mark Fried (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2003

This new edition of Eduardo Galeano's riveting commentary on the history and politics of soccer includes newly written material on the 2002 World Cup, which one quarter of humanity watched.

Discussing everything from the leveling of the Twin Towers to the death of the sole survivor of that extraordinary match between British and German soldiers in 1915, one of South America's greatest commentators issues forth on robotic soccer in Japan, the mass-production of the game as a sign of the decline of civilization, the amazing success of Senegal and Turkey, and how Nike beat Adidas.

Editorial Reviews

From The New Yorker

Soccer in Sun and Shadow stands out like Pele on a field of second-stringers. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

This effervescent book, illustrated by the author's spry silhouettes, is a lyrical celebration of the Latin character. (Boston Globe )

Stands out like Pelé on a field of second-stringers. (The New Yorker )

It's all here. Everything you should know about soccer, the world's game. (Los Angeles Times )

Perfect for American soccer fans who are looking for a quick snapshot of the highlights and lowlights of this very popular international sport. (Publishers Weekly )

As only a radical Latin American writer can, Galeano conjures up images of legendary heroes and earth-shaking goals, with heavy-handed swipes at commercialism and class-politics, real-life racism and fascism. (Time Out New York )

Galeano delivers a loving tribute to the game and its culture, and a celebration not only of soccer but also of life. (San Francisco Chronicle )

Brilliant, lyrical flights of language that, like a player racing down the field in a mad, beautifully executed breakaway, are piercingly and unexpectedly insightful. (Village Voice Literary Supplement )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Verso (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1859844235
• ISBN-13: 978-1859844236
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #263,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Thoughtful & Lyrical Reader, June 22, 2000

By 

A. Ross (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soccer in Sun and Shadow (Paperback)

This is a thoughtful little soccer history reader by a well-known Uruguayan poet and writer. It's written in tiny little topical chunks covering the history of soccer in roughly chronological order. Starting with the pre-history of soccer it unravels leisurely until at the end there is a small denunciation of the big money interests that have corrupted the game which has a grip on the imaginations of little boys (and now girls) around the world. Scattered throughout are lyrical testimonials to individual performers and goals throughout history. As I read, I kept wishing for an accompanying DVD to show these magical goals, but upon reflection, I realized that what Galeano can paint as magic with words might well fade into banality when subjected to the freeze frame. Even though a lot of the players and matches mentioned will mean little to North American soccer fans, the book is still essential reading for its ability to impart the mystical grip the sport has on much of the globe.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poetic history of the world's game, April 9, 2001

By 

J. Rossi (Downers Grove, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soccer in Sun and Shadow (Paperback)

Soccer in Sun and Shadow is a superb book covering the very early days of soccer to modern soccer's start in England to the world game that is played today, and all of it is superb. Even if you are not a huge soccer fan, Galeano's passionate writing will draw you into the fold and make you care for at least as long as the book is open.

Galeano recalls his childhood memories of goals scored and saves missed, the beautiful dance his heroes performed with the ball, and his pride in South American soccer. His writing is sublime and metaphoric, and Galeano never stumbles. By the time he examines the new phase of commercial soccer you'll want to cry at the tainting of a game that is (was?) so pure. The commercialization of soccer will help peolpe from the states relate to the rest of the world: after all, it was just a couple of decades ago when our four major sports were ruined by escalating salaries, corporate involvement and worthless expansion. Galeano wears his heart on his sleeve and creates a wonderful read that anyone, sports fan or not, should enjoy.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read for fans of soccer and non-soccer fans, December 18, 2005

By 

Thomas V. Millington "Book Junkie" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soccer in Sun and Shadow, New Edition (Paperback)

Soccer in Sun and Shadow is Eduardo Galeano's lyrical portrayal of the magic, passion and spontaneity of the sport set in a historical context from soccer's beginnings to the arrival of Bralizian dominance and the subsequent mass marketing of the sport via television and various corporations. The book is comprised of many anecdotes relating the feats of some of soccer's mythic heroes such as Friedenreich, Garrincha, Di Stefano, Cruyff, and of course, the inimitable Pelé. This format will probably appeal more to soccer neophytes than long-time fans, but nonetheless, it is still a good read.

I enjoyed reading stories about various aspects of the sports history and the personalities that formed it. I liked learning about the person who invented the bicycle kick and Di Stefano's incredible goal or how Zizinho scored a double goal against Yugoslavia during the 1950 World Cup. Throughout the book, Galeano imbues the narrative with a tone of passionate reverence for soccer, although he is critical of the big-money machine it has become in recent years.

This is a good book for both fans and non-fans of soccer.