The New Yorker says that Soccer in Sun and Shadow, by Eduardo Galeano, "stands out like Pele on a field of second-stringers." is that true? Is it that unique? Isn't there anything else?
Scroll down click on the link next to the book and you can read some bits & pieces on the many chapters of the book.. It is in Espanol... Great read. http://www.patriagrande.net/uruguay/eduardo.galeano/libros.htm
It's the book that started my interest in South American soccer. There's another one out there. I have to dig it up in one of my man boxes of books.
It's a pretty decent book. It's a personal history, but it's no less interesting for being as much about Galeano's love of the game as it is about the game itself. Not my favorite soccer book of all time, but it's worth reading.
If you are interested in English soccer, I can recommend "The Far Corner" by Harry Pearson. It was written about 12 years or so ago, before the EPL came about. It is concentrated on the north-east corner of England (hence the title) and covers games from the area's three main professional clubs (Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough) down to local amateur teams. Some of the descriptions in it are very funny (at least they are to English people).
Soccer in Sun and Shadow is indeed a classic, as it should be. I read it every year or two and it always seems fresh, like a french kiss.
You'll love it Mel. Galeano's passion for both soccer and left wing politics (and I do mean left-wing, not that pasty "Kerry's my man, so I call myself left" variety you find on the politics forum) comes through in spades. Basically its a series of vignettes of players, goals, and games ordered loosely around World Cup years. Amazing imagery that comes through even after translation.
For anyone interested in South American politics in the 60s and 70s, his other books are worth checking out too. I read Day and Nights of Love and War in translation, and I liked it a lot.
Remember how he starts off some chapters with "the CIA says Castro will fall anyday know" or something. If that don't tell ya he's Noam Chomsky in disguise, what will? [/shrugs]
Well, yes its true and it is also very unique. Is there anything else (of this caliber)? If there is I haven't run across it yet. When looking for soccer books to buy last summer. I took advantage of Amazon.com's "Look inside" feature that allows you to look at sample pages online. The sold-out 1998 edition (see link below) still has this "look inside" feature. The updated 2003 version with new chapters on WC 98 and 02' has no such feature. Note: If you click on "Next Page" and the page doesn't move. Click where it says "Excerpt"... you should see page 2 it goes up to page 5. 'Except' is the only place where "next page" works. At least on my computer. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/s...641371&ve-field=none/qid=/104-7822138-4973558 Enjoy! From the sample pages my fav. part is on page 3. Where it goes, "He's the envy of the neigberhood...."