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The Illustrated History of Football
This is football comic-ery, but not as you know it. Welcome to the inimitable work of illustrator David Squires.
Football and comics. Once a hearty Saturday combination to match cartoons and cereal, in recent years they’ve drifted apart. Thankfully for us, Squires is here to change all that.
In The Illustrated History of Football, his first book, Squires relives some of football’s most glorious moments and meets its greatest figures. In a sport full of handsome paycheques and corporate sponsors, he also casts a critical eye over corrupt backroom workings and helps pierce football’s overblown balloon.
Funny, good-looking and preternaturally astute, this book is everything Sepp Blatter wishes he could be.
Football and comics. Once a hearty Saturday combination to match cartoons and cereal, in recent years they’ve drifted apart. Thankfully for us, Squires is here to change all that.
In The Illustrated History of Football, his first book, Squires relives some of football’s most glorious moments and meets its greatest figures. In a sport full of handsome paycheques and corporate sponsors, he also casts a critical eye over corrupt backroom workings and helps pierce football’s overblown balloon.
Funny, good-looking and preternaturally astute, this book is everything Sepp Blatter wishes he could be.
190 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2016
29 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
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December 9, 2020
تیم فوتبال انگلستان. منبع بیپایان غرور ملی. این گروه مردانِ وحشتزده چه بهزور با کاستاریکا بدون گل مساوی کنند و چه دلیرانه جلوی ایسلند زانو بزنند، معمولاً همه را متحد میکنند؛ نارضایتی جمعی از عملکرد آنها تمام اختلافات سیاسی و اجتماعی را کنار میزند. فقیر و غنی، پیر و جوان، سیاه و سفید، همهی ما دو سال یک بار دوشادوش هم به این فکر میافتیم که چطور این فوتبالیستهای حرفهای نمیتوانند ضربات آزادشان را از نفر اول بگذرانند.
«داستان فوتبال» مجموعهای کمیک به همراه روایت متنیه که روند تحول فوتبال از سالهای بسیار دور تا سالهای اخیر رو مرور میکنه. در این بین گاهی اوقات به اتفاقات مهم سرک میکشه (مثلاً تشکیل فیفا یا شکلگیری لیگ قهرمانان)، گاهی حرف از بازیهای حساس میزنه (مثل فینال لیورپول-میلان و اون کامبک رویایی لیورپول)، گاهی اتفاقات غیرمنتظره رو روایت میکنه (مثلاً قهرمانی انگلیس در جام جهانی یا قهرمانی لستر در لیگ برتر) و گاهی هم به فوتبالیستها و سبکهای فوتبال میپردازه. به نظرم عنوان «داستان فوتبال» برازندهی چنین کتابیه.
طنز در جایجای کتاب دیده میشه، چه در متنها و چه در کمیکها، اما برای درک عمیقشون و قاهقاه خندیدن با اونها باید خورهی فوتبال باشین. در واقع این کتاب چندان به درد کسانی نمیخوره که آشنایی زیادی با فوتبال ندارن. مثلا کسی که خیلی با فوتبال یا ماجراهاش آشنا نیست، قطعاً متوجه طنز چنین جملهای نمیشه: «پنج سال طول کشید تا چپمن اولین جامش را با آرسنال ببرد، اما در آن پنج سالِ بین دو جنگ، یکی مثل پیرس مورگان خبرنگار پیدا نشد که مثل یک بچهی حقبهجانب مدام نق بزند.»
ترجمهی چنین کتابی واقعاً کار سختیه. من کار آقای فرخی رو ستایش میکنم. ایشون که خودشون هم از خورههای فوتبال هستند در مقدمه به چالشهاشون در ترجمهی کتاب اشاره کردن و ابراز امیدواری کردن که از پس این چالشها بهخوبی بر اومده باشن. خب، منِ خواننده بهشون نمرهی قبولی رو میدم. طنزهای کتاب تا حد خوبی منتقل شده و در کل ترجمه هم روان بود.
عمر من (و خیلی از مخاطبهای کتاب) به حکایتهای سالهای دور این کتاب قد نمیده و احتمالاً اون بخشها براشون جذابیت کمتری داشته باشه. اما خب کتاب خیلی بهروزه و اتفاقات سالهای اخیر رو هم پوشش میده. بهجز اتفاقاتی که خودم بهصورت زنده شاهدشون بودم و خوندن روایتشون لذت دوچندانی برام داشت، بخشهای مربوط به تاریخچهی فوتبال و و رویدادها (و نه مسابقات مهم) بیشتر از سایر بخشها لذتبخش بود.
این کتاب میتونه نشون بده که چرا فوتبال اینقدر محبوبه؛ چون تنها ورزشیه که میشه هر اتفاقی رو توش انتظار داشت.
اگر خورهی فوتبال هستید، خوندن این کتاب خالی از لطف نیست.
August 8, 2017
Mostly brilliant and hilarious. First, I'll assert that you gotta read this if you're a football follower. It's essentially, simply for the memorable chronology of events (both canonical and anecdotal) that made football what it is, especially what we divisively "modern football." Get it, read it, laugh. And laugh some more.
This praise being said, critque/satire so carefully focus on a historical milieu is a curious thing. You see this problem, famously, in Dante's Divine Comedy, which requires many footnotes and much commentary to explain the political/social/culture context of medieval Florence. Because Dante is Dante and writing immortal stuff, the poet pulls it off. Squires runs into a similar problem in his comic history: much of the book's humor relies on news-following and social media following of the football world's foibles. Currently, all this material is fresh and funny as hell. However, what about in two years? Five years? Ten years? It's hard to say. But I wonder how well this book will age.
Humor is just so contingent -- in some fascinating ways. So read it while the contextual material is still fresh!
This praise being said, critque/satire so carefully focus on a historical milieu is a curious thing. You see this problem, famously, in Dante's Divine Comedy, which requires many footnotes and much commentary to explain the political/social/culture context of medieval Florence. Because Dante is Dante and writing immortal stuff, the poet pulls it off. Squires runs into a similar problem in his comic history: much of the book's humor relies on news-following and social media following of the football world's foibles. Currently, all this material is fresh and funny as hell. However, what about in two years? Five years? Ten years? It's hard to say. But I wonder how well this book will age.
Humor is just so contingent -- in some fascinating ways. So read it while the contextual material is still fresh!
January 17, 2021
Biraz önce “Çizgilerle Dünya Futbol Tarihi”ni bitirdim, futbol ile ilgilenenlerin çok olacağını bildiğim için detaylı yazayım dedim. Kitap başta özensiz geldi. “Futbol ile ilgili insanlara uyar mı, hafif mi kalır acaba?” derken ilerleyip metnin diline ve çizimlere (karikatür demek daha doğru olabilir) ciddi ciddi alışıp hoşlandım. Hızla bitireceğimi zannederken bu sefer de atıfları, taşlamaları anladıkça daha da gülmeye, yavaşlamaya, tadına varmaya başladım. İngiliz tarzı kara komik bir kitap. tarihsel sıraya göre belli başlı ve ilginç mil taşlarını esprili bir şekilde aktarıyor. Bugüne kadar en azından Türkçe’de benzeri olmadığını düşünüyorum. Ayrıca normal fiyatı 24 TL ki bence çok uygun. İthaki Yayınları olduğu için özellikle "İlknokta.com’da bol bol indirime girecektir. Keyifle okudum, umarım sizin de hoşuna gider kıymetli dostlarım ;)
December 25, 2022
If you have half an ounce of interest in football (international, or club, that debate doesn't matter here), this is the book for you. Covers the history in the most entertaining way possible, with brilliant comic strips accompanying the story over the decades. I am one of those world cup/Euro fanatics with next to zero idea or interest in club football, and found myself nodding along to long forgotten nuggets from World Cup trivia, to gaining a bunch of information about the same players and their achievements or lack thereof in the club leagues. No punches have been pulled by David Squires, especially towards FIFA or the various associations. There's a joke a minute hidden in plain sight, with smart references aplenty. A perfect companion to take care of the withdrawal symptom after the Doha final.
January 10, 2017
David Squires at his very best. Despite my best attempts, it is not possible to get all his references and jokes, but this book is a must-have for all fans of the sport. It adds to your knowledge and you can pick it up anytime again and read from anywhere. A few cartoons really stand out - for me, they were the Cameroon road runner one, Maradona's goal of the century against England in the '86 WC and Dante's Inferno featuring Brazil's 7-1 loss to the Germans.
July 29, 2019
I had SO much fun reading this. The writing is fresh and brilliant, the illustrations and panels outstanding and hilarious, and the little references and jokes impeccable. If only they taught history like this back in school :3
January 7, 2018
Mezinárodní měření sil jsou skvělá, protože nám umožňují zdůraznit kulturní odlišnosti a legitimizují xenofobii.
Dojíždí to na humor. Což je u titulu, který umí být opravdu vtipný i trefný poněkud paradoxní. Jenže Squires se snažil o titul, u kterého se zasměje děda, taťka i synátor. Toho lze docílit buďto univerzálním humorem pro všechny generace (který je extrémně těžké trefit) či tím, že každé z generaci předložíte nějaký ten frk. A to se i stalo.
Výsledkem je tedy mišmaš satiry-karikatury-dětinského humoru, kdy na každý dobrý vtípek připadne jeden vyznívající do ztracena a jeden vyloženě trapný a na jeden dospělácký jeden pro ta nejmenší děcka. A samozřejmě o humory se to snaží v každé větě i v každém obrázku. Každopádně když už to je vtipné, tak je to opravdu hodně vtipné a když už je to trapné, tak je to opravdu hodně trapné.
PS: Přesnější název by byl "Ilustrovaná historie anglosaského fotbalu", protože to tu hraje jasný prim. To však není výtka, jen upozornění.
Dojíždí to na humor. Což je u titulu, který umí být opravdu vtipný i trefný poněkud paradoxní. Jenže Squires se snažil o titul, u kterého se zasměje děda, taťka i synátor. Toho lze docílit buďto univerzálním humorem pro všechny generace (který je extrémně těžké trefit) či tím, že každé z generaci předložíte nějaký ten frk. A to se i stalo.
Výsledkem je tedy mišmaš satiry-karikatury-dětinského humoru, kdy na každý dobrý vtípek připadne jeden vyznívající do ztracena a jeden vyloženě trapný a na jeden dospělácký jeden pro ta nejmenší děcka. A samozřejmě o humory se to snaží v každé větě i v každém obrázku. Každopádně když už to je vtipné, tak je to opravdu hodně vtipné a když už je to trapné, tak je to opravdu hodně trapné.
PS: Přesnější název by byl "Ilustrovaná historie anglosaského fotbalu", protože to tu hraje jasný prim. To však není výtka, jen upozornění.
May 20, 2018
The book is filled with witty, sarcastic, sardonic humour typical of the British. The book traces the evolution of football through the ages and the epoch events that have scarred and shaped it's history - from the humble origins in England & elsewhere and the first FA Cup to the mega-spectacle that is the world cup. The book takes a lot of subtle and not so subtle digs at various officials, administrators and players who have graced the game. Many of the references are blink and you miss and the expectation is that you have followed the game and it's history closely. Some of the descriptions are genuinely funny that made me laugh out loud.
The artwork and the panels are decent - not ostentatious but do the job like a syndicated comic strip. The format of the book of small 2-page chapters with a page of text and an accompanying full-page of comic panels works quite well - letting you keep the pace and never getting boring. The only drawback was the book was a bit British centric than expected for such a global game. Overall a humorous and educative read on the 'Beautiful Game'
The artwork and the panels are decent - not ostentatious but do the job like a syndicated comic strip. The format of the book of small 2-page chapters with a page of text and an accompanying full-page of comic panels works quite well - letting you keep the pace and never getting boring. The only drawback was the book was a bit British centric than expected for such a global game. Overall a humorous and educative read on the 'Beautiful Game'
April 11, 2020
با وجود بعضی بیمزگیهایش کتاب لذتبخشی برای این ایام بیفوتبالی بود؛ حتا خیلی کند میخواندمش تا زود تمام نشود. مؤلف به شکل کارتونی و بانمکی لحظات تاریخی فوتبال را مصور کرده و نیمصفحهای هم برایشان نوشته. معاصربودن کتاب هم باعث شده بتواند جابهجا گریزها و طعنههای بهروزی به حوادث گذشته بزند. خیلی جاها حتا قهقهه زدم. چاپ و ترجمه هم خوب بودند
July 4, 2021
Çevirideki yerelleştirme bana fazla geldi, David Squires'ı düzenli takip edenler için orijinalinden okunması daha doğru olabilir.
August 27, 2023
David Squires has been an important observer and interpreter of football in The Guardian newspaper for quite some time now. I first became acquainted with his work through the agency of social media, and his focus on the Australian A-League. The wit and intelligence that he endows every single one of his cartoon strips, with their focus on events both n and off the soccer pitch, are a hallmark of one of the best creatives minds engaged with the round ball game today. At times, both whimsical and acerbic, Squires is able to make his readers laugh and also think. With The Illustrated History of Football his gaze has been turned to the long and storied history of the world game, and he has made plenty of enjoyable mileage from his work. There is no doubt that if you are at all, interested in or excited by football and concomitant with that, fascinated with its history, you must read this book.
As a cartoonist, Squires brings together the two most important attributes an artist such as he should have. The unification of words with images into a holistic creative venture is a significant achievement for this book and its author/illustrator. Stylistically, the drawings of Squires reminds me of another cartoonist who helped produce satirical work sometime ago; Nicholas Garland was the artist who assisted Barry Humphries in bringing Bazza McKenzie to life on the pages of ‘Private Eye’ in the 1960s, and later in collected volumes of their collaboration. Both Squires and Garland draw the characters with deftly drawn black-and-white lines, accentuating eyebrows, eyes and chins, whilst also relying on shading and shadows when and where necessary to achieve a darker meaning, it is beyond the realms of this review to speak specifically as to the artistic value of Squires’ artistry with ink and pen; all I will say on this matter, for now, is that when you look at the cartoons in this book, they really do work, capturing the essence of the characters and events as depicted.
It must be said that, whilst yes, the book is reliant on the illustrations for much of its content Squires also brings to his book a dry wit in the supporting written passages and in the verbiage his lampooned ‘historical’ characters speak. There is surprisingly strong valuation for historical ‘truthfulness’ in this book; squires is not here just to take the piss. Many of the entries in this book offer ‘good’ history in that what is discussed did happen, and the meaning of what transpired is encapsulated in such a way as to make it all engaging and informative. It would be ridiculous to consider this text to be an academic, or even serious history of football, but it does provoke and encourage an awareness of what has been in the game’s past.
Before I continue in such a laudatory manner, it must be noted that there are some gaps and issues with this book. To be blunt, there is a considerable focus on English football and to a wider extent, European football. That’s fine in some respects, because after all, it is in England, the United Kingdom and Europe, where plenty of footballs historical narrative has been created. However, considering that we are really talking about the global game, about a code of football that is played around the world, perhaps more could’ve been said outside the European realms of Squires’ work. This may be redundant, however, as far as I’m concerned, as someone who does not have any real interest in English Premier league football, the amount of strips and entries in this book that deal with teams, like Manchester United, Arsenal, even Nottingham Forest etc get a little bit boring.
Then there is the gap in this books coverage of women’s football. Perhaps this is an unfair criticism of what Squires has achieved, however he barely deviates from his focus on men’s soccer. It will be interesting to see if any future new additions of this book will reflect the impact wrought by the most recent women’s World Cup here in Australia and New Zealand.
One thing that Squires really does nail to the wall is the hypocrisy and corruption of what transpires in football’s political dimension. That recent triumvirate of dodgy FIFA bosses, Havelange, Blatter and Infantino are given short shrift. Having said that, Squires doesn’t ignore external forces that have helped stain soccer’s reputation. Both Mussolini and the Italian football team of the 1930s, and the Argentinian military regime that was intimately involved with human rights violations during the 1970s and their association with the national football team and the 1978 World Cup, are also highlighted. Squires doesn’t pull any punches, and this is undoubtedly due to the intellectual and creative impulse that drives his work. The Illustrated History of Football is more of a strident comment than a gentle prodding of football’s history.
If there is one strip in the book that perhaps defines what Squires has achieved with his work, it is the one that explores what happened to the Colombian footballer Andres Escobar after his tragic own goal at the 1994 World Cup. In this one segment of the book, Squires defines what is both truly magnificent about football, with its importance, and relevance to human spirit, and the horror of what happens when people take that love and twist it and turn it into something which is evil. Escobar’s words are aligned perfectly, with what Squires has drawn, and if you don’t respond to this part of the book, then it really is your loss.
For all its seriousness, and for all the insight and provocation, the Squires offers with both his drawings and his text, this is also a gloriously funny book. It’s hard not to laugh at some of the ridiculous parodies that the author has drawn. Personally, one of the funniest images in the text is how Squires has depicted the legendary 1974 West German team. Beckenbauer, Maier, Müller, Breiner etc are all there in their mock-Teutonic scariness.
So who really should be looking at reading The Illustrated History of Football. Obviously, football fans need to get their head around this book. Whether one is a devotee of the history of the global game or not, there is gonna be plenty, but he or see to enjoy. Students of cartoons and graphic works. Might also find some value in reading this book. I’m sure there are other similar types of texts out there and whilst I have not read them, I am sure few could match what Squires has done. The final commendation I can make about this book is that history is always considered to be a very dry and potentially boring subject. Even sport history can be made out to be as dull as dishwater. In The Illustrated History of Football David Squires negates this potentiality and he has created a must have for anyone with a passion for the round ball game.
As a cartoonist, Squires brings together the two most important attributes an artist such as he should have. The unification of words with images into a holistic creative venture is a significant achievement for this book and its author/illustrator. Stylistically, the drawings of Squires reminds me of another cartoonist who helped produce satirical work sometime ago; Nicholas Garland was the artist who assisted Barry Humphries in bringing Bazza McKenzie to life on the pages of ‘Private Eye’ in the 1960s, and later in collected volumes of their collaboration. Both Squires and Garland draw the characters with deftly drawn black-and-white lines, accentuating eyebrows, eyes and chins, whilst also relying on shading and shadows when and where necessary to achieve a darker meaning, it is beyond the realms of this review to speak specifically as to the artistic value of Squires’ artistry with ink and pen; all I will say on this matter, for now, is that when you look at the cartoons in this book, they really do work, capturing the essence of the characters and events as depicted.
It must be said that, whilst yes, the book is reliant on the illustrations for much of its content Squires also brings to his book a dry wit in the supporting written passages and in the verbiage his lampooned ‘historical’ characters speak. There is surprisingly strong valuation for historical ‘truthfulness’ in this book; squires is not here just to take the piss. Many of the entries in this book offer ‘good’ history in that what is discussed did happen, and the meaning of what transpired is encapsulated in such a way as to make it all engaging and informative. It would be ridiculous to consider this text to be an academic, or even serious history of football, but it does provoke and encourage an awareness of what has been in the game’s past.
Before I continue in such a laudatory manner, it must be noted that there are some gaps and issues with this book. To be blunt, there is a considerable focus on English football and to a wider extent, European football. That’s fine in some respects, because after all, it is in England, the United Kingdom and Europe, where plenty of footballs historical narrative has been created. However, considering that we are really talking about the global game, about a code of football that is played around the world, perhaps more could’ve been said outside the European realms of Squires’ work. This may be redundant, however, as far as I’m concerned, as someone who does not have any real interest in English Premier league football, the amount of strips and entries in this book that deal with teams, like Manchester United, Arsenal, even Nottingham Forest etc get a little bit boring.
Then there is the gap in this books coverage of women’s football. Perhaps this is an unfair criticism of what Squires has achieved, however he barely deviates from his focus on men’s soccer. It will be interesting to see if any future new additions of this book will reflect the impact wrought by the most recent women’s World Cup here in Australia and New Zealand.
One thing that Squires really does nail to the wall is the hypocrisy and corruption of what transpires in football’s political dimension. That recent triumvirate of dodgy FIFA bosses, Havelange, Blatter and Infantino are given short shrift. Having said that, Squires doesn’t ignore external forces that have helped stain soccer’s reputation. Both Mussolini and the Italian football team of the 1930s, and the Argentinian military regime that was intimately involved with human rights violations during the 1970s and their association with the national football team and the 1978 World Cup, are also highlighted. Squires doesn’t pull any punches, and this is undoubtedly due to the intellectual and creative impulse that drives his work. The Illustrated History of Football is more of a strident comment than a gentle prodding of football’s history.
If there is one strip in the book that perhaps defines what Squires has achieved with his work, it is the one that explores what happened to the Colombian footballer Andres Escobar after his tragic own goal at the 1994 World Cup. In this one segment of the book, Squires defines what is both truly magnificent about football, with its importance, and relevance to human spirit, and the horror of what happens when people take that love and twist it and turn it into something which is evil. Escobar’s words are aligned perfectly, with what Squires has drawn, and if you don’t respond to this part of the book, then it really is your loss.
For all its seriousness, and for all the insight and provocation, the Squires offers with both his drawings and his text, this is also a gloriously funny book. It’s hard not to laugh at some of the ridiculous parodies that the author has drawn. Personally, one of the funniest images in the text is how Squires has depicted the legendary 1974 West German team. Beckenbauer, Maier, Müller, Breiner etc are all there in their mock-Teutonic scariness.
So who really should be looking at reading The Illustrated History of Football. Obviously, football fans need to get their head around this book. Whether one is a devotee of the history of the global game or not, there is gonna be plenty, but he or see to enjoy. Students of cartoons and graphic works. Might also find some value in reading this book. I’m sure there are other similar types of texts out there and whilst I have not read them, I am sure few could match what Squires has done. The final commendation I can make about this book is that history is always considered to be a very dry and potentially boring subject. Even sport history can be made out to be as dull as dishwater. In The Illustrated History of Football David Squires negates this potentiality and he has created a must have for anyone with a passion for the round ball game.
February 10, 2017
David Squires, best known at least to me as the brilliant Guardian football cartoonist. His cartoons are funny, insightful and tend to require at least some football knowledge. I’m happy to say this book is more of the same. It might be somewhat funny even to people not into football but to really appreciate it quite a lot of football related trivia is needed. I’m probably a good match for this book because English football, football history and international tournaments are the things I know best. I would imagine that without some of that quite a few jokes make no sense.
Squires goes through the history of football from the stone ages to the far future but the book is very much leaning towards English football. So someone like me definitely gets the most out of the book. Having said that anyone into the same things will find this book a delight.
Squires goes through the history of football from the stone ages to the far future but the book is very much leaning towards English football. So someone like me definitely gets the most out of the book. Having said that anyone into the same things will find this book a delight.
November 16, 2016
It goes without saying that this book is extremely funny, but what impressed me most was the research Squires has done into football history. This is no dashed-off cash-in for Christmas: I learned stuff in between the laughs.
And while I appreciated the fleeting appearance of Janet, I now have three new favourite Squires characters in the Ring Cafe patrons. I liked them before you'd even heard of them.
And while I appreciated the fleeting appearance of Janet, I now have three new favourite Squires characters in the Ring Cafe patrons. I liked them before you'd even heard of them.
July 23, 2025
تیم فوتبال انگلستان. منبع بیپایان غرور ملی. این گروه مردانِ وحشتزده چه بهزور با کاستاریکا بدون گل مساوی کنند و چه دلیرانه جلوی ایسلند زانو بزنند، معمولاً همه را متحد میکنند؛ نارضایتی جمعی از عملکرد آنها تمام اختلافات سیاسی و اجتماعی را کنار میزند. فقیر و غنی، پیر و جوان، سیاه و سفید، همهی ما دو سال یک بار دوشادوش هم به این فکر میافتیم که چطور این فوتبالیستهای حرفهای نمیتوانند ضربات آزادشان را از نفر اول بگذرانند.
«داستان فوتبال» مجموعهای کمیک به همراه روایت متنیه که روند تحول فوتبال از سالهای بسیار دور تا سالهای اخیر رو مرور میکنه. در این بین گاهی اوقات به اتفاقات مهم سرک میکشه (مثلاً تشکیل فیفا یا شکلگیری لیگ قهرمانان)، گاهی حرف از بازیهای حساس میزنه (مثل فینال لیورپول-میلان و اون کامبک رویایی لیورپول)، گاهی اتفاقات غیرمنتظره رو روایت میکنه (مثلاً قهرمانی انگلیس در جام جهانی یا قهرمانی لستر در لیگ برتر) و گاهی هم به فوتبالیستها و سبکهای فوتبال میپردازه. به نظرم عنوان «داستان فوتبال» برازندهی چنین کتابیه.
طنز در جایجای کتاب دیده میشه، چه در متنها و چه در کمیکها، اما برای درک عمیقشون و قاهقاه خندیدن با اونها باید خورهی فوتبال باشین. در واقع این کتاب چندان به درد کسانی نمیخوره که آشنایی زیادی با فوتبال ندارن. مثلا کسی که خیلی با فوتبال یا ماجراهاش آشنا نیست، قطعاً متوجه طنز چنین جملهای نمیشه: «پنج سال طول کشید تا چپمن اولین جامش را با آرسنال ببرد، اما در آن پنج سالِ بین دو جنگ، یکی مثل پیرس مورگان خبرنگار پیدا نشد که مثل یک بچهی حقبهجانب مدام نق بزند.»
ترجمهی چنین کتابی واقعاً کار سختیه. من کار آقای فرخی رو ستایش میکنم. ایشون که خودشون هم از خورههای فوتبال هستند در مقدمه به چالشهاشون در ترجمهی کتاب اشاره کردن و ابراز امیدواری کردن که از پس این چالشها بهخوبی بر اومده باشن. خب، منِ خواننده بهشون نمرهی قبولی رو میدم. طنزهای کتاب تا حد خوبی منتقل شده و در کل ترجمه هم روان بود.
عمر من (و خیلی از مخاطبهای کتاب) به حکایتهای سالهای دور این کتاب قد نمیده و احتمالاً اون بخشها براشون جذابیت کمتری داشته باشه. اما خب کتاب خیلی بهروزه و اتفاقات سالهای اخیر رو هم پوشش میده. بهجز اتفاقاتی که خودم بهصورت زنده شاهدشون بودم و خوندن روایتشون لذت دوچندانی برام داشت، بخشهای مربوط به تاریخچهی فوتبال و و رویدادها (و نه مسابقات مهم) بیشتر از سایر بخشها لذتبخش بود.
این کتاب میتونه نشون بده که چرا فوتبال اینقدر محبوبه؛ چون تنها ورزشیه که میشه هر اتفاقی رو توش انتظار داشت.
اگر خورهی فوتبال هستید، خوندن این کتاب خالی از لطف نیست.
January 26, 2018
While I wouldn't say it's hilariously funny, Squires' book still is a great read and provides hours of entertainment. It consists of one spread at a time concentrating on some event or development in the history of footy - from cavemen all the way to the future. One page is a text outline of that particular happening, the second tells the story with pictures, usually from a slightly different angle. The number of references (in particular to British football) is mind-boggling and I couldn't myself work them all out. His drawing style is what I'd call (for lack of a better word) slightly crude or simplistic, but not in a bad way! The characters are eazily recognizable even then which I take as a sign of a good cartoonist. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for everyone who loves football!
July 8, 2021
Well drawn comic strip stories which told the story of football in a jokey yet inciteful way.
One particular highlight was the comic strip of Brazil's 7-1 loss to Germany as a pastiche on Dante's divine comedy.
There was a definite left wing bias to the book which is what I'd expect as it comes from a Guardian cartoonist, but at times I felt I was being hit over the head with his opinions in an unsubtle way and at other times it felt like his opinions were being presented as fact or that there was only one side to the story.
That said I enjoyed this book and would recommend it as it captured well in a well drawn format the beauty, hilarity and bizarre world of football through the ages to the present day.
One particular highlight was the comic strip of Brazil's 7-1 loss to Germany as a pastiche on Dante's divine comedy.
There was a definite left wing bias to the book which is what I'd expect as it comes from a Guardian cartoonist, but at times I felt I was being hit over the head with his opinions in an unsubtle way and at other times it felt like his opinions were being presented as fact or that there was only one side to the story.
That said I enjoyed this book and would recommend it as it captured well in a well drawn format the beauty, hilarity and bizarre world of football through the ages to the present day.
December 3, 2020
4.5. Every week David Squires puts out an incredibly funny comic, and this is that incredibly funny comic given the time and editing to make it even better. What's not to like? Text? Funny. Comics? Funny. Every single frame of 'this does not slip up'? Chef's kiss. I will say that Squires excels at making fun of every club equally, probably because his Swindon allegiance makes it easier (yes, I googled just to make sure he wasn't a Liverpool fan, which happens to me with depressing frequency). It is focused on British/European football, but that's to be expected. Bottom line it's a book of someone having fun with football and it's great.
September 12, 2019
I have always enjoyed David Squires' strips in The Guardian - mostly because of his unabashed critique about everything wrong with the beautiful game (from Fifa to Mourinho) through the medium of subtle humour.
This book is immensely enjoyable for anyone who is a follower of football and is interested in knowing about the historical events which have shaped the sport. David's dry and subtle humour lend a great edge, and I finsihed off this book in a hurry. This gets docked a star because I think there was scope to include more events and characters, esp from recent history.
This book is immensely enjoyable for anyone who is a follower of football and is interested in knowing about the historical events which have shaped the sport. David's dry and subtle humour lend a great edge, and I finsihed off this book in a hurry. This gets docked a star because I think there was scope to include more events and characters, esp from recent history.
December 31, 2022
A witty, sarcastic retelling of major footballing events, Squires with his unique artwork and an awful sense of 'British' humor makes this book brilliant and funny. Of course, it is heavily leaning to the British side of football history, but hasn't it all with the conquest of the gas-money guzzling but money-making machine called the Premier League? Do note, that you have to have adequate knowledge of the footballing world, historical events and even, some British politics to understand all the puns in the book; along with a knack of recognizing specific persons in Squires' art.
July 10, 2018
Несмотря на оригинальное название "The Illustrated History of Football", книга совершенно не подходит тем, кто с этой историей не знаком. Каждая страница проникнута едким сарказмом, который все же не всегда уместен, и через который бывает не просто продраться к сути. У меня осталось очень противоречивое впечатление.
А само издание, к сожалению, не избежало опечаток и некоторой безграмотности, вряд ли являющейся стилистическим приемом.
А само издание, к сожалению, не избежало опечаток и некоторой безграмотности, вряд ли являющейся стилистическим приемом.
June 24, 2022
David Squires'ın çizimlerini daha önceden biliyordum ve futbol tarihi ile yakından ilgili (ve pek çok şeyi hatırlayan) biri için bunun süper bir kitap olduğunu düşünüyorum.
Ancak, tercümesini hiç beğenmedim. Kitabın sonunda tercüman bu konuya bir açıklık getiriyor. Pek çok yerde yerelleşmiş (Türkçeleştirilmiş espriler) ve argo bir dil var ki, bunun sebebini artık anlıyorum, ama yine de beğenmedim.
Ancak, tercümesini hiç beğenmedim. Kitabın sonunda tercüman bu konuya bir açıklık getiriyor. Pek çok yerde yerelleşmiş (Türkçeleştirilmiş espriler) ve argo bir dil var ki, bunun sebebini artık anlıyorum, ama yine de beğenmedim.
January 29, 2023
Without meaning to sound overly hyperbolic, David Squires is the best thing about the Guardian right now. His cartoon news updates are required reading, mixing the best of popular and memetic culture with the latest football developments. This book is an extension of that, and more - it traces the major themes in the evolution of the world's favourite sport. This is not quite up there with 'Inverting the Pyramid' or 'The Ball is Round', but it is a fascinating companion-piece all the same.
February 11, 2021
Wonderful bedside book. Squires' relentless sarcasm grates after 5-10 strips so at that point I would put it away and come back to it the following night. English-centric, but thoughtful and well-researched and amusing throughout. The one about Austrian football hipsters of the 1930s... just thinking about it makes me laugh.
May 10, 2021
Okurken maalesef çok sıkıldım. Ayrıca kitabın ismi çok yanlış olmuş; çünkü Çizgilerle İngiliz Futbol Tarihi olsa daha iyi olurmuş.
2000 Uefa Kupası’ndaki Galatasaray’a, Los Galacticos kadrosuna, 2002 Dünya Kupası’ndaki ve 2008 Avrupa Şampiyonası’ndaki Türkiye’ye 1 sayfa ayrılmamış olması tam bir fiyaskoydu bence !
2000 Uefa Kupası’ndaki Galatasaray’a, Los Galacticos kadrosuna, 2002 Dünya Kupası’ndaki ve 2008 Avrupa Şampiyonası’ndaki Türkiye’ye 1 sayfa ayrılmamış olması tam bir fiyaskoydu bence !
July 5, 2023
Very good, although nowhere near the level of his later book 'The Illustrated Football (Soccer) Hall of Fame' which is absolutely hilarious. It feels a little hamstrung by the overaching concept and so a few of the sketches feel thrown together. When it is funny though, it's as you would expect tremendous, but those moments are a little more spread out.
June 24, 2017
A can't miss book!
Having only gotten into football in my early 20s, there was plenty I didn't know about landmark events and his book covers it all: with panache and plenty of easter eggs. A thoroughly, delightful and funny read. I only wish it covered more events.
Having only gotten into football in my early 20s, there was plenty I didn't know about landmark events and his book covers it all: with panache and plenty of easter eggs. A thoroughly, delightful and funny read. I only wish it covered more events.
March 29, 2018
Humor preciso, el formato le baja puntos.
Me gusta el humor de David Squires , lo único que tengo que reprochar es el formato del libro. El cambio constante de texto a ilustraciones le quita fluidez, aunque el autor no cae en el error de hacer la misma broma dos veces.
Me gusta el humor de David Squires , lo único que tengo que reprochar es el formato del libro. El cambio constante de texto a ilustraciones le quita fluidez, aunque el autor no cae en el error de hacer la misma broma dos veces.
August 14, 2018
Harikaydı. Çok beğendim ve okurken çok keyif aldım. Keyfimin bu kadar büyük olmasındaki en önemli etken de çevirmen Barış Karacasu'nun kitabı mükemmel bir şekilde yerelleştirmiş olmasıydı hiç kuşkusuz.
August 5, 2020
Hilarious book! I have read a lot of football history books, this is undoubtedly the most entertaining. Sure, it does include a lot of rumors and not just facts, but it just adds to the fun. Warning, this isn’t a kids comic. There is a lot of foul language in the comics.
April 26, 2021
Kitap ağırlıklı olarak Britinya futbolu etrafından futbol tarihini hoş çizgilerle anlatıyor. Çevirmenin birebir bir çevireden ziyade argolarda dahil bir çok yerelleştirmesi kitabı Britinya himayesinden bir nebze de olsa kurtarmış.
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