Love Game ─ A History of Tennis, from Victorian Pastime to Global Phenomenon

Tennis is defined by its head games, its demands for physical prowess, and its plethora of outsized personalities. It mixes chess and dance, intellectual geometry and aesthetic joy. People who love tennis love it like few others love other sports. Some fans build their lives around the calendar of tourneys, and events like Wimbledon and the U.S. Open remain, year after year, popular and well attended. Wilson’s captivating cultural history embraces the rich and intertwining stories of the sport, and tells the story of its evolution from upper-middle-class hobby to global TV spectacle. Wilson marshals and conveys all the passion for a game known for its players’ grunting, growling, sweating, and pursuit of sweet spots. No wonder, as Wilson says, each match starts with love.

Elizabeth Wilson is a novelist and nonfiction writer whose many books includeCultural Passions, Adorned in Dreams, and The Sphinx in the City.