Cricket and England - A Cultural and Social History of Cricket in England between the Wars (Hardcover, annotated edition)

A study of how cricket in England between the Wars reflected the social relations and cultural values of the time. The authors explore English social and cultural history through the sport by analysing the relationships between classes, Church and society, as well as gender roles. They point out cricket's role as part of the national image and the influence it had on evaluating the 'English character'. They carefully outline how the sport demonstrates the tendencies and morals of the time; for example, in the game of cricket social and economic differences were made obvious. The game was intertwined with the convictions of whether a person's moral fitness for political and social leadership was a shown by prowess in the sport. Examining cricket playing among women and their support for the sport provides an unusual perspective upon gender roles between the Wars. The study the beliefs that cricket sportmanship expressed Christian teachings and how the Church's presence in recreational cricket established the role of Christianity in English social life and ethical values. The images of cricket and how far the world of cricket conformed to these ideas are essential for understanding English culture and society between the Wars.