A Terrible Splendor

“A Terrible Splendor”
by Marshall Jon Fisher

Review by Ken DeHart

This is one of my favorite tennis books of all time for 3 reasons!!!   Here’s why:

1. A great history of tennis and the world in the 1920′s-60′s including World War I and II
2. Amazing “inside” story line about several of the world’s greatest players and their personal stories
3. It makes us aware that tennis in the 20′s & 30′s was huge in American sports.  Tilden made over 1 million dollars during the depression and drew over 30,000 people to watch his matches – try that on for size….

“A Terrible Splendor chronicles the importance Davis Cup played in the world (it was one of the premier events and drew mass attention, participation and sponsors) of tennis.  It follows the lives of Bill Tilden who dominated tennis for over 30 years and the great match – Don Budge vs Baron Gottfried von Cramm in the Wimbledon match in 1937.  You will understand why it was one of the greatest tennis 5 set matches in the history of tennis – well before Nadal and Federer.  One player was playing for his life with Hitler and his Gestapo’s watch his every move, on and off the court.  The other, Don Budge played for the pride of his country.

Marshall does a great job of drawing us into this 1937 Wimbledon match as it is process of being played. Then he sets the storyline that allows us to understand the players, what was happening in the world, the tennis world and why this match had world wide implications.

I have over 2,000 tennis books in my collection and this is one of the top 5 – must read books if you love history, tennis and the story behind the scene.  Pick it up and you can’t put it down.  You will understand how tennis was one of the top 2 sports in the US during this time.  These three incredible players will earn your respect and admiration.

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Wooden Tennis Racquets

Usually about 20-30 San Jose Swim & Racquet Club members show up beside court #4 with their wooden racquets or select from the racquets Ken brings for them to use and get ready for a visit to how tennis was played in the past. At first they are a little unsure if that white tennis ball will really fit on that wooden racquets strings. After a few hits and misses, they are ready to “let the games begin”.

Match play usually consists of a game with the first to with a prescribed number of games the winner. The winning team moves up one court and the non-winning team moves down a court – then they trade partners with the two new players on the court and go at it again.

There are lots of laughs and excuses but play becomes quite good after an hour or so. Sometimes we keep score and sometimes Ken makes up the scores. At the end of the day there is a raffle with more prizes than participants, strawberries, whipped cream as well as an American tradition – pizza and beer.

It’s a Wimbledon and San Jose Swim & Racquet Club tradition.

Photo Credits: sflovestory

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