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Fox Tossing, Octopus Wrestling and Other Forgotten Sports
Paperback | 1 June 2016
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From Flagpole Sitting to Hot Cockles, Edward Brooke-Hitching has researched through piles of dusty tomes to bring vividly back to life some of the most curious, dangerous and downright bizarre sports and pastimes that mankind has ever devised, before thinking better of it and erasing it from the memory.
After all, who would ever want to bring back Fox Tossing, a popular sport for men and women in 17th-century Germany? As the name suggests, it would involve dozens of couples pairing up and standing 20-25 feet apart in an enclosed field, each holding one end of a net, and then they would pull hard at both ends as the fox ran past, sending it flying high into the air.
There are many other sports revealed within these pages that are unlikely ever to make an appearance on our TV screens, such as Firework Boxing, which is just as dangerous as it sounds. Meanwhile, Ski Ballet may not have been so risky, but Suzy 'Chapstick' Chaffee's signature move - the Suzy Split (a complete forward split while balanced on the tips of her skis) - was probably not one to try at home. An intriguing, entertaining and occasionally shocking insight into the vivid imaginations of mankind across the years, Fox Tossing, Octopus Wrestling and Other Forgotten Sportsis an unforgettable read.
About the Author
Edward Brooke-Hitching is an award-winning documentary director whose films examine the eccentric side of British life, such as life-saving window cleaners and the world’s worst orchestra. The son of an antiquarian book dealer, he worked for an ice cream factory, a newspaper, a care home, and a theater before gaining a degree in film from the University of Exeter and entering film and television production. He lives in London.
Industry Reviews
ISBN: 9781471148996
ISBN-10: 1471148998
Published: 1st June 2016
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number of Pages: 272
Audience: General Adult
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Country of Publication: GB
Dimensions (cm): 24.5 x 16.5 x 4.5
Weight (kg): 0.2
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