A Man's World :The Double Life of Emile Griffith
A Man's World :The Double Life of Emile Griffith
Paperback
Published:
28 July, 2016
Paperback
Published:
28 July, 2016
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Description
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2015 WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE.
'I kill a man and most people forgive me. However, I love a man and many say this makes me an evil person.'
On 24 March 1962, when Emile Griffith stepped into the ring in Madison Square Garden to defend his world title against Benny Paret, he was filled with rage. During their weigh-in, the Cuban challenger had denounced Griffith as a 'faggot' and minced towards him. In the macho world of boxing, where fighters know they are engaged in the hurt game, there could be no greater insult. At that time, it was illegal for people of the same gender to have sex, or even for a bar to knowingly serve a drink to a gay person. It was an insinuation that could have had dangerous consequences for Griffith - especially as it was true.
In the fight that followed, Griffith pounded Paret into unconsciousness, and the Cuban would die soon after, leaving Griffith haunted by what he had done. Despite this, he went on to fight more world championship rounds than any other fighter in history in a career that lasted for almost 20 years.
In Donald McRae's first sports book in more than a decade, he weaves a compelling tale of triumph over prejudice - Griffith was black, so doubly damned by contemporary society, but refused to cower away as society wished. A Man's World is a classic piece of sports writing.
'I kill a man and most people forgive me. However, I love a man and many say this makes me an evil person.'
On 24 March 1962, when Emile Griffith stepped into the ring in Madison Square Garden to defend his world title against Benny Paret, he was filled with rage. During their weigh-in, the Cuban challenger had denounced Griffith as a 'faggot' and minced towards him. In the macho world of boxing, where fighters know they are engaged in the hurt game, there could be no greater insult. At that time, it was illegal for people of the same gender to have sex, or even for a bar to knowingly serve a drink to a gay person. It was an insinuation that could have had dangerous consequences for Griffith - especially as it was true.
In the fight that followed, Griffith pounded Paret into unconsciousness, and the Cuban would die soon after, leaving Griffith haunted by what he had done. Despite this, he went on to fight more world championship rounds than any other fighter in history in a career that lasted for almost 20 years.
In Donald McRae's first sports book in more than a decade, he weaves a compelling tale of triumph over prejudice - Griffith was black, so doubly damned by contemporary society, but refused to cower away as society wished. A Man's World is a classic piece of sports writing.
Prizes
Short-listed for William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2015
More Details
| Type | Book |
|---|---|
| ISBN13 | 9781471132360 |
| ISBN10 | 1471132366 |
| Number Of Pages | 448 |
| Item Weight | 1000 g |
| Publisher / Reseller | Simon & Schuster Ltd |
| Format | Paperback |
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Author's Bio
Donald McRae is an award-winning author of fourteen non-fiction books which have featured sporting icons, legendary trial lawyers, heart surgeons and South Africa. He has twice won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year – the UK's most prestigious sports book prize – and ten national awards for his journalism at the Guardian.