The first history of squash in the U.S., Squash tells the story of the game from its beginnings in 1884 in open-air courts in New Hampshire to today's pro tournaments in portable glass courts in Grand Central. It describes every aspect of the game: women, men, juniors, intercollegiates, singles and doubles, hardball and softball. Learn about such legends as Harry Cowles, whose Harvard teams never lost a match; Eleo Sears who swam in the icy Atlantic in February before matches; and the Khan family who emerged from the Khyber Pass to build the world's greatest squash dynasty in North America. Follow the concrete court on the Titantic to its watery grave. Read in detail about the classic confrontation between Jahangir Khan and Mark Talbott at the 1984 Boston Open. Gasp at the five times the title of national champion has come down to one final, winner-take-all point. Discover who are the stars of the future. With sixteen pages of exciting photographs and an appendix containing a complete list of all major tournament winners, Squash is the essential piece of equipment for the twenty-first century player and fan.
"The squash world has been waiting for a book like this. Even the most dedicated and knowledgeable maestros of tight rails and feathery drop shots will learn lots of fascinating stuff they never knew before." -Tom Wolfe, author of The Bonfire of the Vanities and A Man in Full
"Expert/hacker, hardball/softball, doubles/singles-all squash devotees should read James Zug's comprehensive and passionate account of the history of their game." -Frank Deford, senior writer, Sports Illustrated
"The definitive book on the game." -George Plimpton, author of Paper Lion and editor of the Paris Review, from the foreword to Squash: A History of the Game
"With its narrative vivacity and wealth of historical settings, this classy piece of sports writing is not just for sports nuts." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Fantastic! This intertwines the beautiful art of the game we love with in-depth knowledge of its origins and wonderful quotes, memories and stories. An absolute must for all squash enthusiasts." -Natalie Pohrer, world #1 softball player
"This is by far the most entertaining, informative squash book that I have ever seen." -Mark Talbott, former world #1 hardball player