Tennis and the Meaning of Life: A Literary Anthology of the Game

Front Cover
Jay Jennings
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1995 - Literary Collections - 400 pages
The only book of its kind, Tennis and the Meaning of Life is a resplendent collection of the best fiction (and poetry!) written about this extraordinary sport/obsession. The stories are hilarious and sad, whimsical and philosophical, lyrical and profane - and thoroughly saturated with the art of the game. Fathers play against sons. Business partners attempt mutual destruction by tennis. An amateur challenges the local pro. Humbert Humbert rhapsodizes about Lolita's heartbreakingly beautiful game. Tennis is played by telegraph. Tennis saves a life or two. The metaphysics of tennis balls is debated. Lovers cavort in a commingling of tennis and desire.
 

Contents

Tennis ROGER ANGELL
3
Beggars Would Ride BERYL BAINBRIDGE
13
The Return of Service JONATHAN BAUMBACH
23
Rackets and Riches at Wimbledon J P DONLEAVY
35
In the Land of Dreamy Dreams ELLEN GILCHRIST
53
Mother Coakleys Reform BRENDAN GILL
69
A Fairly Regular Four FREDERIC RAPHAEL
212
The Blacktop Champion of Ickey Honey
235
A LawnTennisonian Idyll ANONYMOUS
341
The Olympic Girl JOHN BETJEMAN
348
On the Tennis Court at Night GALWAY KINNELL
363
Tennis OSIP MANDELSTAM
375
Bjorn Borg WILLIAM SCAMMELL
384
The Tennis E B WHITE
389
Author Biographies
395
Copyright

Balance His Swing Yours WALLACE STEGNER
274

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