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Fred Trueman: The Authorised Biography
Fred Trueman was so much more than a cricketing legend. ‘The greatest living Yorkshireman’ according to Prime Minister Harold Wilson, he couldn’t help excelling at everything he did, whether it was as a hostile fast bowler for Yorkshire and England, and the first man to take 300 Test wickets in a career, or as a fearlessly outspoken radio summariser for Test Match Special. He was famous for regularly spluttering that, ‘I don’t know what’s going off out there,’ as well as for the amount of swearing he managed to incorporate into everyday speech. Beloved of cricket crowds, who filled grounds to witness his belligerent way of playing the game, and nothing but trouble to the cricket authorities, ‘Fiery Fred’ was the epitome of a full-blooded Englishman. But as Chris Waters reveals in this first full biography, behind the charismatic, exuberant mask lay a far less self-assured man – terrified even that his new dog wouldn’t like him – and whose bucolic version of his upbringing bore no relation to the gritty and impoverished South Yorkshire mining community where he actually grew up. Drawing on dozens of new interviews with his Yorkshire colleagues, family and friends, this life of Fred Trueman will surprise and even shock, but also confirm the status of an English folk hero.
- GenresBiography
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 20, 2021
This book traces the fascinating life of Fred Trueman. From the first page to the last it paints a vivid picture of the places, the eras and the people involved in his life. From Trueman’s unprivileged childhood on the doorstep of the local coal mine was born a gritty determination and strong work ethic. This not only shaped his rise to become the premium fast bowler of his time but laid a foundation for his many battles to come.
His fast-bowling exploits are legendary and even more remarkable considering some of his treatment from the hierarchy of the cricket establishment. I felt unease and squirmed at some of his outspoken opinions and actions, but I also admired his direct plain speaking. I was engrossed in the scandals and myths that always seemed to follow him around. His long running battles and fall outs with teammates and cricket committees are worthy of a book on their own.
I not only learnt so much about his life and his achievements, I feel I got to know many sides of Freddie Trueman. The confident but unsure, the stubborn, outspoken and the shy, compassionate man. He was one hell of a character. A hugely enjoyable read.
His fast-bowling exploits are legendary and even more remarkable considering some of his treatment from the hierarchy of the cricket establishment. I felt unease and squirmed at some of his outspoken opinions and actions, but I also admired his direct plain speaking. I was engrossed in the scandals and myths that always seemed to follow him around. His long running battles and fall outs with teammates and cricket committees are worthy of a book on their own.
I not only learnt so much about his life and his achievements, I feel I got to know many sides of Freddie Trueman. The confident but unsure, the stubborn, outspoken and the shy, compassionate man. He was one hell of a character. A hugely enjoyable read.
April 20, 2023
Superb biography of the Yorkshire and England cricketing legend Fred Trueman.
Definitely one of the best sports biographies I've read in a while. This leaves very little untouched and gives the reader a balanced picture of a very complex man.
Trueman was a larger than life character but I enjoyed learning about the softer side of his personality that was hidden beneath the bluster and public face of the 'greatest living Yorkshireman.'
Definitely one of the best sports biographies I've read in a while. This leaves very little untouched and gives the reader a balanced picture of a very complex man.
Trueman was a larger than life character but I enjoyed learning about the softer side of his personality that was hidden beneath the bluster and public face of the 'greatest living Yorkshireman.'
August 8, 2019
Great biography of the cricketing legend Fred Trueman, sometimes an authorised biography doesn’t dig deep and avoids controversy but this covers everything about Trueman good and not so good
March 26, 2021
Interesting book. Awful man.
November 21, 2023
An exceptional biography of a great Yorkshire and England cricketer. A controversial and outspoken figure,his talents can't be denied. A superb read. A must for any cricket fan.
January 23, 2024
Thoroughly researched. Well written. Not a hagiography but sympathetic to the subject. Highly recommended.
June 5, 2013
This is my second time with this book, and i think i enjoyed it even more this time.
As a student of the game, though not as obsessive as i once was, i of course knew of Fred Trueman's record, but being 43 years old never saw him bowl other than on films. My exposure to him was via his work on Test match Special where, while his knowledge of bowling came through, so did his frustration, sometimes possibly even contempt with the modern game. To me , he was the antithessis of Mark Nicholas and to an extent Richie Benaud who seem to give the impression that the game has never been better. I was interested in seeing how much of my impression was correct, and just how good a Cricketer he was. This book helped me with this, and even if it hadn't it tells the story well.
What we would now consider a derived, though loving childhood gave way to the tough and sometimes fractious career at Yorkshire and with England, breaking as many fast bowling records as were there to be broken, all the while falling in but mostly out of favour with the authorities.
The overall conclusion i draw having read this is that he was almost as good as he says he was, and certainly not the bad 'un he seems to have been considered, certainly by the MCC.
I now have a greater admiration of him as a bowler, and certainly an appreciation for him as a person. He emerges from the charicature of his TMS work to a real, interesting and complex person.
My congratulations to Mr Waters, this is one of the better Cricket books i've read in a while.
As a student of the game, though not as obsessive as i once was, i of course knew of Fred Trueman's record, but being 43 years old never saw him bowl other than on films. My exposure to him was via his work on Test match Special where, while his knowledge of bowling came through, so did his frustration, sometimes possibly even contempt with the modern game. To me , he was the antithessis of Mark Nicholas and to an extent Richie Benaud who seem to give the impression that the game has never been better. I was interested in seeing how much of my impression was correct, and just how good a Cricketer he was. This book helped me with this, and even if it hadn't it tells the story well.
What we would now consider a derived, though loving childhood gave way to the tough and sometimes fractious career at Yorkshire and with England, breaking as many fast bowling records as were there to be broken, all the while falling in but mostly out of favour with the authorities.
The overall conclusion i draw having read this is that he was almost as good as he says he was, and certainly not the bad 'un he seems to have been considered, certainly by the MCC.
I now have a greater admiration of him as a bowler, and certainly an appreciation for him as a person. He emerges from the charicature of his TMS work to a real, interesting and complex person.
My congratulations to Mr Waters, this is one of the better Cricket books i've read in a while.
December 31, 2012
I've read hundreds of cricket books in my time and this is right up there with the best. The author captures brilliantly the complexities and apparent inconsistencies in Trueman's character. The way in which class issues are captured bring ail what cricket must have been like in the 50s and 60s. I've completely changed my view of Trueman as a consequence of this fine book.
November 4, 2019
The life of one of the most celebrated, outspoken and controversial cricketers captured in unimaginable detail!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews