[Learie Constantine] (By: Peter Mason) [published: August, 2008]

by Peter Mason

Sir Learie Constantine was an extraordinary figure by any yardstick and a man of firsts. One of the greatest and most popular of all West Indian cricketers, he left the game to become, among other things, a barrister, cabinet minister, diplomat, broadcaster, author and journalist.The first black man to enter the House of Lords, he was a tireless campaigner for racial equality and West Indian self-government whose forthright response to racial discrimination led to a celebrated legal case that laid the foundations for Britain s first Race Relations Act. Above all, however, he was an immensely popular public figure throughout his life; a man whose easy charm and warm personality won the hearts of countless admirers in walks of life that were far from his humble beginnings in the hills of Trinidad.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learie Constantine was not just an extraordinary cricketer (although his statistics do not necessarily rank with the best)and this book covers his life in all aspects. Obviously he came to fame via his cricket so the early part of the book develops his cricketing career, which blossomed when he became the club professional at Nelson in Lancashire. After his Test career was over in 1939 it moves on to his time as a diplomat, ambassador, statesman and embryo politician. He had much to do with the Race Relations Act in the UK and was extremely influential in the creation of independence for the West Indies. He was a happy family man who was always there to support causes close to his heart and the book paints an endearing picture of the man.