Book description
Alan Ross (1922-2001) - distinguished poet, travel writer, and
editor of London Magazine - also managed to excel in the role of
cricket correspondent for the Observer, in which capacity he followed
England/MCC on tours of Australia, South Africa and the West Indies.
In the book-length accounts he published of these tours, his lifelong
love of the game found glorious expression. Australia 55 offers Ross's
perspectives on the battle for the Ashes, the visiting side led by Len
Hutton, and Ross's own vivid first impressions of the host country.
'The massive fluctuations of the series - England, overwhelmed in
Brisbane, won in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide to retain the Ashes -
engaged [Ross's] interest; his fascination with Len Hutton, a 'lonely
figure struck down by as many disasters as any overworked hero in
Greek mythology', deepened...' Gideon Haigh, Cricinfo
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. Many of his titles are to be reissued in Faber
Finds.
