A People's History of Tennis

In June, David Berry published a groundbreaking new study: "A
People's History of Tennis".


Through the histories of the sport’s clubs and players, David’s
book sets out to show that beneath its “establishment image,
tennis is a surprisingly radical game”.


He argues that tennis has been a nexus for various social forces,
many of them progressive, in Britain and beyond – from feminist
protest and reform, to forming new notions of masculinity, to the
sport’s emphasis on volunteering and community spirit.


He also underlines those forces in tennis that have sadly not
been so inclusive. We talked about the book and how these
histories bear on the tennis world today. Can Jack Kramer's tax
in the mid-80s become a reality post-Covid? And why should the
British Lawn Tennis Association look no further than Phillipe
Chatrier's legacy?


A People's History of Tennis is available to purchase from Pluto
Press for £14.99. 


Music by Drive Me Home


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.