Wrestling [Paperback]

Simon Garfield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 7, 1997

A humorous exploration of the strange world of British professional wrestling, which was watched on television by millions in the 1970s and 1980s. It tells the story of Kendo Nagasaki, Mick McManus, Les Kellet, Klondyke Kate and Dr Death - men and women who "fought" each other every night.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Simon Garfield was born in 1960. His books include the prize-winning The End of Innocence: Britain in the Time of AIDS, The Wrestling (1996), and The Nation's Favourite: The True Adventures of Radio 1 (1998), as well as three recent works of history: Our Hidden Lives, We Are at War and Private Battles. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Faber Paperbacks (July 7, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571190669
• ISBN-13: 978-0571190669
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,832,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars UK look at the wrestling business, December 9, 2004

By 

Andrew Murphy (Kansas City MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wrestling (Paperback)

I picked this up in Ireland in 2000. Of all the wrestling books out there, good or bad, this is a good read and gives a unique look at the British wrestling scene from the 60s and 70s.

Vince McMahon and the WWF steamrolled through the UK like it did the American territories. Still this book captures the rich history of stars like Big Daddy, Kendo Nagasaki, Giant Haystacks (Loch Ness of WCW) and others. Also detailed are grapplers like Dave Finley and Steve Regal who made it big over here.

My favorite part is the exploits of Giant Haystacks. His account of being a debt collector is pretty funny.

Garfield paints a great pictures and heavily uses direct quotes to give the wrestlers perspective. Anybody who loves wrestling should pick this book. Let the Lita and Edge books gain dust on the sales bin.

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for the Wrestling Historian, July 20, 2004

By 

K. Brown "El Rudo Lucky Pierre!" (Walnut, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wrestling (Paperback)

Written in 1996, "The Wrestling" is a history of the heyday of Pro Wrestling in Great Britain, told entirely through the mouths of those who lived it. For those WWE fans who read the recent Hardy Boys autobiography, this is the same structure, but with a much larger cast of characters.

The legends who narrate the history include Mick McManus, Exotic Adrian Street, Max & Brian Crabtree, Jackie Pallo, Pat Roach, Klondike Kate, Mitzi Mueller, Mal Sanders, Giant Haystacks, Big Daddy Crabtree, Kent Walton and scores more. Fond memories for England's wrestling fans, albeit melancholy to see how many interviewed in this book have passed away since its printing.

Included is the 1980s new-era crossroads when WWF put a new face on the business, and many imitators followed suit. It is interesting to read the old-school grapplers comments on the change the biz went through. Included are players of the 1990s like Shawn Michaels and Davey Boy Smith.

Not as deep a search into the mechanics and soul of the biz as many authors have done since, but a high quality read. Essential for anybody who wants to become a thorough historian of the pro wrestling business.