{"product_id":"first-of-the-summer-wine-9781398501522","title":"First of the Summer Wine","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe remarkable story of three Yorkshire cricketers from the Golden Age - George Hirst, Wilfred Rhodes and Schofield Haigh - who transformed their county's fortunes, inspired a generation of cricketers and left a unique legacy on the game.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Between them, \u003cb\u003eHirst, Rhodes and Haigh\u003c\/b\u003e scored over 77,000 runs and took almost 9000 wickets in a combined 2500 appearances, helping Yorkshire to seven \u003cb\u003eCounty Championship \u003c\/b\u003etriumphs. The records they set will never be beaten, yet the three men - known throughout England as The Triumvirate - were born in two small villages just outside Huddersfield, in \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLast of the Summer Wine\u003c\/i\u003e country\u003c\/b\u003e. Hirst pioneered and perfected the art of swing and seam bowling, Rhodes took more first-class wickets than anyone else in history, while the genial Haigh's achievements as a bowler at Yorkshire have been surpassed only by his two close friends; their influence would extend far beyond England, as they all went to India to\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Hirst and Rhodes were aristocrats by acclamation, not birthright; known everywhere and worshipped in God’s Own County for what they could do with a cricket ball. In this \u003cb\u003ewistful paean\u003c\/b\u003e, Pearson...knits all these achievements together with \u003cb\u003elovely turns of phrase\u003c\/b\u003e - \"they batted on a wicket so amiable it practically chortled\" - \u003cb\u003eand colourful descriptions\u003c\/b\u003e of fringe characters.' -- Patrick Kidd * The Times *\u003cbr\u003e'It takes a particular worldview, and \u003cb\u003eglorious skill\u003c\/b\u003e, to set up and write a biography in the way that Harry Pearson writes this one... \u003cb\u003eA masterpiece of observation and comic timing\u003c\/b\u003e.. Yorkshire is much more than a backdrop to the tale. It comes alive with meaning. In striving for the human qualities of cricketing gods, he's managed to do something new with a familiar place and a familiar story.' -- Jon Hotten * Wisden Cricket Monthly *\u003cbr\u003e'[An]\u003cb\u003e engrossing study\u003c\/b\u003e of the three players who did most to transform Yorkshire from a bunch of dissolutes to the most successful county team of the early 20th century. Pearson \u003cb\u003esuccessfully knits together\u003c\/b\u003e their careers to give a fresh perspective.' -- David Hopps * The Cricketer *","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49407719113047,"sku":"9781398501522","price":17.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781398501522.jpg?v=1730500309","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/first-of-the-summer-wine-9781398501522","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}