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1wcarter
Boxiana by Pierce Egan 1976
In the last 70 years of its existence, the Folio Society has published some unusual titles, but none stranger and less likely to appeal to the usual FS clientele than Boxiana, which is a history of pugilism in England from 1740 to 1830.
I am no fan of boxing (I once chaired an Australian Medical Association committee that investigated medical concerns about the sport), but amazingly found this 208 page book quite interesting. In 34 short chapters the author covers the boxing champions of England during this time, as well as the venues, pubs and clubs that supported “The Fancy”.
Boxing was a vicious, bare knuckled contest, with matches lasting two hours or more. There was no point scoring system, the victor being the last man literally left standing. The ring was initially that, just a ring of spectators around an open space, but in due course became an enclosed square of variable size. The ring was rather crowded, because as well as the two contestants, the seconds, bottle boy and referee for each boxer was present in the ring, as well as a third neutral referee. What the referees actually did is unknown, as there seemed to be few rules, and wrestling moves were permitted. There was also a one yard square marked on the surface of the ring at its centre, where the boxers faced off at the start of each bout.
The chapters give a biography of each boxer, and sometimes a blow by blow account of their most famous fights. Unsurprisingly, many of the pugilists died early and impoverished, despite prize money commonly being £100-200, and sometimes as much as £1000, at a time when an average worker earned £20 a year. Other chapters give the contemporary historical details about the life in the pubs and clubs that supported pugilism.
Many towns and counties banned the sport, so contests were often undertaken in relatively remote country locations, with thousands of supporters streaming out from the nearby cities to watch. Crowds of over 20,000 were not uncommon. The endpapers of the book show “The Fancy on the Road to Moseley Hurst” which was originally a 156 inch long scroll showing all strata of society streaming out of London in varying conveyances, and with associated entertainments, to see a boxing match in the country. The book includes an 8 page facsimile description of everything that is happening in the illustrated scroll.
Boxiana is beautifully bound in brown cloth with a gilt pattern and title (in a very small point size) on the spine. The sides are pattern printed paper. There are eight colour illustrations, and the book in its brown patterned slipcase is 26x16.5cm. The book is edited and introduced by John Ford.
An intriguing FS rarity.
Front endpaper
Back endpaper
Endpaper detail
Prospectus clipping
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
In the last 70 years of its existence, the Folio Society has published some unusual titles, but none stranger and less likely to appeal to the usual FS clientele than Boxiana, which is a history of pugilism in England from 1740 to 1830.
I am no fan of boxing (I once chaired an Australian Medical Association committee that investigated medical concerns about the sport), but amazingly found this 208 page book quite interesting. In 34 short chapters the author covers the boxing champions of England during this time, as well as the venues, pubs and clubs that supported “The Fancy”.
Boxing was a vicious, bare knuckled contest, with matches lasting two hours or more. There was no point scoring system, the victor being the last man literally left standing. The ring was initially that, just a ring of spectators around an open space, but in due course became an enclosed square of variable size. The ring was rather crowded, because as well as the two contestants, the seconds, bottle boy and referee for each boxer was present in the ring, as well as a third neutral referee. What the referees actually did is unknown, as there seemed to be few rules, and wrestling moves were permitted. There was also a one yard square marked on the surface of the ring at its centre, where the boxers faced off at the start of each bout.
The chapters give a biography of each boxer, and sometimes a blow by blow account of their most famous fights. Unsurprisingly, many of the pugilists died early and impoverished, despite prize money commonly being £100-200, and sometimes as much as £1000, at a time when an average worker earned £20 a year. Other chapters give the contemporary historical details about the life in the pubs and clubs that supported pugilism.
Many towns and counties banned the sport, so contests were often undertaken in relatively remote country locations, with thousands of supporters streaming out from the nearby cities to watch. Crowds of over 20,000 were not uncommon. The endpapers of the book show “The Fancy on the Road to Moseley Hurst” which was originally a 156 inch long scroll showing all strata of society streaming out of London in varying conveyances, and with associated entertainments, to see a boxing match in the country. The book includes an 8 page facsimile description of everything that is happening in the illustrated scroll.
Boxiana is beautifully bound in brown cloth with a gilt pattern and title (in a very small point size) on the spine. The sides are pattern printed paper. There are eight colour illustrations, and the book in its brown patterned slipcase is 26x16.5cm. The book is edited and introduced by John Ford.
An intriguing FS rarity.
Front endpaper
Back endpaper
Endpaper detail
Prospectus clipping
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2TabbyTom
>1 wcarter:
Like you, I'm not a boxing fan either, but I loved this book. Maybe Folio should consider publishing Egan's "Life in London" with the Cruikshank illustrations.
Like you, I'm not a boxing fan either, but I loved this book. Maybe Folio should consider publishing Egan's "Life in London" with the Cruikshank illustrations.
3terebinth
>1 wcarter:
My thanks for the review, and the only part I 'would question is the book's description as a Folio rarity, given that I'm currently seeing 20 copies listed on Abe: indeed there were 21 there last night when I placed an order for one of them. My prior interest in boxing doesn't extend far at all beyond Hazlitt.
My thanks for the review, and the only part I 'would question is the book's description as a Folio rarity, given that I'm currently seeing 20 copies listed on Abe: indeed there were 21 there last night when I placed an order for one of them. My prior interest in boxing doesn't extend far at all beyond Hazlitt.
4wcarter
>3 terebinth:
“Curiosity” would have been a better term than “rarity”. Mea culpa.
At least I got you interested enough to make you buy a copy 🤗
“Curiosity” would have been a better term than “rarity”. Mea culpa.
At least I got you interested enough to make you buy a copy 🤗
