It arrived today. I’m pretty excited. I’m sure it will feel dense at times given the old English style of writing, but I hope the late Mr. Egan can bring these long ago characters back to life so that I can feel like I’m reading about these old fights in real time. I’m a little irritated because I didn’t know it was a two volume set. In fact, when I was buying the book on Amazon I looked to see the “if you like this you might also like” section and even in that section they didn’t mention a volume II. Well, if it’s good I guess I have that to look forward too. Anyway, anyone read Boxiana on here? What were your thoughts?
It's 5 volumes. I read the first 3. Egan uses extensive contemporary slang that at first is overwhelming. I suggest having a slang dictionary for the period whenever you read. After 3 books (which take a long time to go through), the verbiage starts to become more familiar. Its somewhat like attending a Shakespeare play and getting used to the English of the period .
AJ Liebling, the greatest boxing writer ever IMO, held Egan in the highest esteem and referred to Boxiana often. I think you’ll get a lot of the slang sorted out by context. There’s the milling coves (fighters) and the knowing coves (fans, those who follow the sport and ‘know’). I think prime bottom is someone in good shape. That sort of thing.
My main problem with Boxiana is you don't see the forrest for the trees. A lot of separate write-ups that are hard to combine together mentally to get an understanding of this or that era. The slang doesn't help either, and neither does the tendency of Egan (possibly John Bee, as well) to make things up for his own purposes.
Thanks for that critique as that is precisely what I was hoping for (ie. To see the forest for the trees). From what I’m reading from everyone, it sounds like it won’t be a leisurely read by the pool. Rather I may need my notebook, a dictionary, and a list of Georgian slang terms handy. Anyway, I look forward to the challenge of trying to piece it together in a way that might make a more collective sense out of it.
As far as champions are concerned, I'd rather have used Pugilistica than Boxiana, Henry Miles tried his best to remove literary extravaganza from Egan's works. More concise and to the point.
From what I've read of each, pugilistica reads more scholarly, citing sources etc. Is there any well regarded books on boxing from these periods written in the last 100 years?
Of modern books on British bareknuckle boxing history Bob Mee's "Bare Fists" seemed to be the best, although not without flaws.
