The Bandit on the Billiard Table

by Alan Ross

. 1989, light toning to pages clean copy

1000 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Alan Ross (1922-2001) was a poet, writer, journalist, editor and publisher. In fact, he was a man of letters par excellence. Born in India, educated in England, he joined the Royal Navy in the Second World War and endured the Arctic convoys to Russia. Alan Ross took over The London Magazine (the definite article was later dropped) from John Lehmann and revitalized it. There, it has been said, 'he simplified as well as unified contemporary culture by the clarity of his unique editorial taste. He also discovered many new talents.' His writing embraced poetry, cricket journalism, biography, autobiography, criticism and travel writing.

Reviews

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are interested in Sardinia, Nelson or D.H.Lawrence, this book might be for you. Otherwise, it is just a very dull bloke sharing his (admittedly quite good) holiday pictures and accompanying each and every single one with a story you really have no interest in. (Whilst hinting at lots of stories which would have been far more interesting but which he isn't going to tell you.)

[Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this book ticks all the boxes for travel literature: beautifully rendered sensory descriptions, historical highlights judiciously interspersed, and real insight into architecture, landscape, and society.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

c1954: FWFTB: 1950's, malaria, Nelson, summer, Garibaldi. What fun to be able to travel and do some research and then get to write a book about it. Historical facts are intertwined with the journeys to the various places visited and the writing is beautifully constructed. There was a lot about this island's past that was unknown to me in particular Nelson's sojourn. Recommended to certain members of the normal crew and thanks to Faber for sending me the book in the first place. "From the station you emerge into the beating sunlight of the Via Roma: a wide white street, with palms and bougainvillea down the middle. the sea on one side. Green, dusty trams rattle continuously along the water-front and motor-bicycles hoot and accelerate past immaculate point-duty police in white uniforms."