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This book was written by a man called Bartholemew Gorman, and follows his career as a bareknuckle prizefighter.
It serves as a good reminder on the realities of streetfighting, to those of us who do some training and the odd bit of sparring etc and suddenly think we are fighters!
(I include myself in that.)
Mr Gorman was an a member of the travelling community, the community most commonly known in britain and ireland as 'Gypsies'.
Please let me make it clear, I have been told that some people consider that a derogotary term, so in this review I will use the more accepted term of 'Travellers'.
I would also add that Mr Gorman touched on that in his book, and said that he was proud to be called a Gypsy.
If any travellers, or those who know more about this issue would like to comment, I'd be interested to hear your views.
I certainly mean no disrespect, since I was a child my grandfather and uncles always told me tales about the great fighters in the Travelling commounity, and how as a people they were very hardy, and wouldn't allow themselves to be pushed around by anyone. I respect that.
There is a quite a bit of background on the Travelling community in the book, on how in mainland europe most descend from Romany people, but that in Ireland many have different origins, some going back to the Celts, and about how those in Britain mainly came from Ireland, but also from Romany peoples.
It is written in a great style, you can really imagine the towns, fields, bars etc he describes, as well as the fights and situations he got in.
He shows his human side as well as describing his fighting persona.
He gives his views on other great fighters of the past and the present, such as Jack Johnson, and describes his meetings with the likes of Lenny "The Guvnor" Mclean and Muhammad Ali.
He doesn't exactly come out and say he would have beaten these guys or anything, but he does say one thing at the beginning of the book which will ring true with anyone who knows anything about the Travellers and their prizefighters in britain and ireland (by the way, when he says 'best man' in this context he means 'best fighter'):
"If you are the best man among the gypsies, then you are a very good man indeed."
All in all, a fantastic book, absolutely gripping. I really couldn't put it down.
I would love to have read more about his life and times, but sadly he died in 2002.
Thanks for the great book Mr Gorman, and may you rest in peace.
Would love to hear your views on this.
It serves as a good reminder on the realities of streetfighting, to those of us who do some training and the odd bit of sparring etc and suddenly think we are fighters!
(I include myself in that.)
Mr Gorman was an a member of the travelling community, the community most commonly known in britain and ireland as 'Gypsies'.
Please let me make it clear, I have been told that some people consider that a derogotary term, so in this review I will use the more accepted term of 'Travellers'.
I would also add that Mr Gorman touched on that in his book, and said that he was proud to be called a Gypsy.
If any travellers, or those who know more about this issue would like to comment, I'd be interested to hear your views.
I certainly mean no disrespect, since I was a child my grandfather and uncles always told me tales about the great fighters in the Travelling commounity, and how as a people they were very hardy, and wouldn't allow themselves to be pushed around by anyone. I respect that.
There is a quite a bit of background on the Travelling community in the book, on how in mainland europe most descend from Romany people, but that in Ireland many have different origins, some going back to the Celts, and about how those in Britain mainly came from Ireland, but also from Romany peoples.
It is written in a great style, you can really imagine the towns, fields, bars etc he describes, as well as the fights and situations he got in.
He shows his human side as well as describing his fighting persona.
He gives his views on other great fighters of the past and the present, such as Jack Johnson, and describes his meetings with the likes of Lenny "The Guvnor" Mclean and Muhammad Ali.
He doesn't exactly come out and say he would have beaten these guys or anything, but he does say one thing at the beginning of the book which will ring true with anyone who knows anything about the Travellers and their prizefighters in britain and ireland (by the way, when he says 'best man' in this context he means 'best fighter'):
"If you are the best man among the gypsies, then you are a very good man indeed."
All in all, a fantastic book, absolutely gripping. I really couldn't put it down.
I would love to have read more about his life and times, but sadly he died in 2002.
Thanks for the great book Mr Gorman, and may you rest in peace.
Would love to hear your views on this.
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