'I fell in love with football as I was later to fall in love with women: suddenly, inexplicably, uncritically, giving no thought to the pain or disruption it would bring. . . '
For many people watching football is mere entertainment, to some it's more like a ritual; but to others, its highs and lows provide a narrative to life itself. For Nick Hornby, his devotion to the game has provided one of few constants in a life where the meaningful things - like growing up, leaving home and forming relationships, both parental and romantic - have rarely been as simple or as uncomplicated as his love for Arsenal.
Brimming with wit and honesty, Fever Pitch, winner of the William Hill Sports book of the Year, catches perfectly what it really means to be a football fan - and in doing so, what it means to be a man. It sits side the very finest football classics of the last twenty five years, from The Damned United by David Peace to A Life Too Short by Ronald Reng, but it is ultimately a book that defies categorization and can be enjoyed by all.
'A spanking 7-0 away win of a football book. . . inventive, honest, funny, heroic, charming' Jim White, Independent
'Funny, wise and true' Roddy Doyle
'Hornby has put his finger on truths that have been unspoken for generations. Furthermore, he writes beautifully. A damn good read. Buy it' Tom Humphries, Irish Times
