A Corner of a Foreign Field

2002 book by Ramachandra Guha

A Corner of a Foreign Field

Book cover, first edition

Author| Ramachandra Guha
Language| English
Publisher| Macmillan Publishers

Publication date

| 2002
ISBN| 978-0330491167

A Corner of a Foreign Field: The Indian History of a British Sport is a 2002 book by Indian historian Ramachandra Guha that offers a historical account of cricket in the Indian subcontinent.[1] Some critics have called it one of the finest books on cricket.[2][3]

## Background

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The book was initially conceived as a biography of left-arm spinner Palwankar Baloo. Baloo was a Dalit, a community that has historically been subjected to untouchability under the Indian caste system. His cricketing feats, however, enabled him to overcome contemporary Indian social barriers associated with being a Dalit.[4] As Guha explored Baloo's story further, the book expanded to become a social history of cricket in India.[5] On the subject of the book, Guha has written, "The making of modern India is its theme, with cricket serving merely as a vehicle, as my chief source of illustrative example."[4]

## Editions

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An early edition cover featured a picture of author R.K. Narayan playing cricket with his nephews and niece.[6][7]

## Awards

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The book won the 2002 Book of the Year Award from The Cricket Society and MCC.[8]

## References

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1. ^ Lezard, Nicholas (3 May 2003). "Review: A Corner of a Foreign Field by Ramachandra Guha". Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
2. ^ Kynaston, David (23 May 2018). "Top 10 books about cricket". Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
3. ^ "Which are the finest cricket books?". Cricinfo. 5 November 2012. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
4. ^ a b Haigh, Gideon (17 May 2008). "A cricket history of India". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
5. ^ Menon, Suresh (22 February 2009). "One writer, many hats". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
6. ^ Kodkani, Jayanth. "Malgudi's Sachin is 75". Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
7. ^ Satyan, T.S. "Walking with R.K. Narayan". Frontline. Vol. 19, no. 14 (July 06–19, 2002 ed.). Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022. "I photographed him at work, with members of his family, listening to his daughter - Hema playing on the veena and more important - playing cricket with his nephews Thumbi and Nokki and niece Shanta."
8. ^ "The Cricket Society and MCC Book of the Year Award". The Cricket Society. Retrieved 17 January 2024.

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