This book introduced me to one of the most fascinating characters you could ever hope to meet, a fiddle-playing boxer of immense strength and courage who straddled the old world of bare-knuckle bouts and modern boxing. However, I'm not sure this is the book to really learn about him. The author (and descendent) relates his own life in parallel with Jem's and many scenes of his life read almost as fictional recreations. Very frustrating!
(Clive Yelf - bwl 62 Autumn 2011 ) |
