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JOHNSTON, BRIAN: : It's a funny Game. [Author SIGNED copy.]

LONDON.W.H.ALLEN,1978.

ISBN 0491024347.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,author SIGNED,1st edn. FINE/NFINE.Author's,handwrtten blue ink inscription to ffe: "Best wishes Brian Johnston." No owner inscrptn,and no price-clip to dw/dj.Colour,caricature cartoon,by Roy Ullyett to upper wrap with author colour photograph to rear wrap.Minimal shelf-wear and negligible creasing to dw/dj edges with no nicks or tears present.Very,very light bumping/ creasing to both head+foot of spine/backstrip. Top+fore-edges very lightly aged,contents tight and near pristine.Plain red paper-covered boards with bright,blocked gilt letters to spine/ backstrip and immaculate plain white endpapers. UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,author SIGNED,1st edn,12-231pp [paginated] includes title+half-title pages, contents list,author preface (with two tiny smudges),17 chapters,24pp contemporary b/w photographs and an index. Following the enthusiastic reception of his 'first' autobiography 'It's been a lot of fun' (published 1973),Brian Johnston says:'Any person who writes two autobiographies must be egotistical.But any person who refuses when graciously asked has to be pretty strong-minded!' 'It's a funny game' takes up where 'It's been a lot of fun' left off and for those readers who are not cricket fanatics,there is no need to despair.There is more than just cricket in this book.Brian continues his saga of family life in London,re-introducing his wife Pauline,their five children,housekeeper 'Cally' and the much-petted Yorkshire terrier Mini.Having reached the ripe old age of sixty-five (then 1978),Brian finds that his retirement brings as much work, pleasure and variety as ever before.A broadcaster's job can be tremendous fun,as Brian shows us,with an informative,behind-the-scenes look at his commentary of a major event like the Queen's Jubilee day 'walkabout' in London.We are treated to a description of life in the commentators' box at the six English Test grounds: cramped,cosy and chaotic.But there's method in the madness - gales of laughter and even total paralysis brought on by unfortunate gaffes and incidents within the box itself are balanced by the great skill and enthusiasm shared by the team.'It's a funny game.' is packed with personalities - a gaggle of bona fide British eccentrics from places visited in Down Your Way; family and showbiz friends and,of course,anyone and everyone in the world of cricket.Brian assesses the thirteen captains for Test series appointed over his thirty-two years of broadcasting cricket - and makes his personal choice as to the pick of the bunch.He also gives a sincere, thoughtful appraisal of the 'Packer affair'.As a man who admits:'I have this absurd hankering to make people laugh (and who includes a bumper chapter of gags and stories to prove it) Brian Johnston sums up his book thus:'the meanderings of a remarkably happy and lucky person,to whom life,like cricket,is a funny game and still a lot of fun!' Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,that stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of any inexpensive book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,SIGNED,1st edn.
Not SIGNED.

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