Review: Lord’s cricket ground in North London is the headquarters of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and is considered to be the world headquarters of cricket. This iconic ground, especially its pavilion and adjoining museum, is home to a huge collection of artworks and other artefacts connected with the history of the game. This book, compiled by the lyricist Tim Rice, is a concise, lavishly illustrated volume describing some of the more famous items in the collection. The author is probably best known for his collaboration with musician Andrew Lloyd Webber, but he is also a keen student of cricket and has been a former president of the MCC.
The opening chapter of the book describes the founding of the ground and its forerunners (the current site is the third venue founded by Thomas Lord) and its subsequent development. This is followed by chapters and illustrations covering the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries (the book was published in 1989), and a final chapter on some of the more idiosyncratic artefacts. These include the famous “Ashes” urn, which was presented to the captain of the England/MCC touring team in Australia in 1883 and which is competed for in Test Match series between England and Australia.
Comprising a mixture of text covering the history of the ground and famous players; illustrations of the artworks; and detailed notes about the provenance of the artworks, their subject(s) and the artists who created them, this is a fascinating insight into the treasures housed in cricket’s headquarters. It should appeal both to followers of the game and those interested in art history.
To order your copy now, just click here!
No comments:
Post a Comment