Charles Ivar McGrath Books

A wistful reflection on family, youth, and the enchanting magic of New England summers, this work by an esteemed writer and former editor of The New York Times Book Review explores themes of friendship and loss. It evokes vivid memories of summers gone by—those exhilarating days when school ends, filled with leisure, reading dog-eared paperbacks, and returning to beloved vacation spots. The narrative captures family road trips, first loves, fireworks, lawn games, penny candies, and the inevitable sunburns that accompany bracing swims. McGrath fondly recalls these experiences, recognizing that many memories may have become idealized over time. More than a nostalgic tribute, it tells a poignant story of friendship between two men from different backgrounds who connect later in life, bonding over shared summer experiences and the joys of parenthood. As one friend faces a cancer diagnosis, their relationship gains new depth and meaning, highlighting the enduring impact of friendship amidst life's challenges. This reflection resonates with anyone who cherishes the essence of summer and the connections forged during those fleeting, magical days.

This is the history of Lansdowne FC, the most iconic rugby club in Ireland. Based at the headquarters of Irish rugby, the Club was established even before the international game came to Lansdowne Road. The brain-child of the visionary H.W.D. Dunlop, Lansdowne FC has been a central player in the history of Irish rugby for 150 years and generation after generation of Irish greats have plied their trade with the Club. Centred on the need for people to associate together, this social and cultural history of Lansdowne FC is presented through the prism of key events in Ireland and the wider world, from the drive for codification of sports in the later nineteenth century through the seismic events of two world wars, the Irish Revolution, the Free State and Republic, and beyond. Throughout the book major questions relating to nationalism, unionism, class, religion, and racism in sport and wider society are addressed, while it concludes with consideration of the impact of Covid-19 and the regenerative power of sport within the community.

Ever since the Dark Ages, when a few Scots ambled over the dunes with their het kolvin sticks, slapping a ball around in something akin to golf, no sport has more universally or irreversibly awed its players and fans. THE ULTIMATE GOLF BOOK captures the world's ultimate sporting passion as it has never been captured before, with a lively, authoritative history, stunning illustrations, and perhaps the finest collection of original writing on the sport ever assembled between two covers. Putting a fresh, contemporary spin on the centuries-old story of golf, Sports Illustrated's colorful senior writer John Garrity has written a delightful, loose-limbed riff of a history that travels the globe and the links, covering the key personalities, events, advances in technique and technology, proliferation of interest, and curious mystery of this international obsession. Complementing the history are twenty personal essays from a diverse group of literary low-handicappers, musing on everything from the Age of Tiger, to the woes of the lowly club pro, to the charm of playing golf in the dead of winter, to giving up the game altogether. All of this plays out against the dramatic backdrop of more than 300 photographs and illustrations, many rare and historic, many commissioned especially for this volume, which is truly one of a kind. From the tee to the green, the clubhouse to the nuthouse, THE ULTIMATE GOLF BOOK is a must-have for any serious student of the game.