Get Her Off the Pitch!: How Sport Took Over My Life
From the bestselling author of Eats, Shoots and Leaves, a hilarious new book from Lynne Truss about her strange journey through the world of sport and sports journalism.
Get Her Off the Pitch! is the story of one woman’s foray into the very masculine and rather baffling world of sport. Lynne Truss, author of Eats, Shoots and Leaves, spent four years as an unlikely sports writer for The Times. It was a job that took her around the world (via the most difficult journeys and least glamorous hotels) and introduced her to some of the greatest living sportsmen (and many argumentative men with clipboards).
During her time at the newspaper she faced disdain from fellow sports writers; undertook last-minute, pre-fight research into ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ (Muhammad Ali won, surprisingly); tried unsuccessfully to interpret bizarre commentary and memorize results statistics; wept at football matches and discovered a lasting love for golf. She was even nominated for Sports Writer of the Year.
Get Her Off the Pitch! is the hilarious, perceptive and at times moving account of those four strange years. It is perfect for those for whom sport is a matter of life and death, for those who have no idea what all the fuss is about – and for everyone in between.
'Who will want to read this book? Not the fans, obviously, nor the resolutely sport-ignorant. Just people like me who are largely indifferent to sport but enjoy literate, amusing, properly punctuated writing about anything.' Daily Mail -
'she can write comedy for Britain' Times -
'If you are a fan of Truss's self-depreciating moroseness you will hugely appreciate Get Her Off the Pitch!..her writing on sport was always worth reading.' The Times -
'This is an amiable amble through the press boxes of the sporting world' Telegraph -
'Truss is not only warm and witty on her personal journey from footie virgin to sports bore, she also delivers unique and piercing perspectives.. What elevates it far beyond the average nostalgia trip is her trademark pith and an inventive way with simile and metaphor' Observer -