Beyond A Boundary

It is either fortunate that there is so much else beside cricket in this book or unfortunate that there is so much cricket in this book. There are many chapters where James goes on about the role of cricket in a boy's life, role of cricket in society, and the role of cricketers in society. These are the best parts of the book, especially if one is able to substitute the word "sport" for "cricket". These chapters do not dwell on the detailed points of the game, but simply need the reader to acknowledge that cricket is a game that people care about. Any sports fan should be able to make that leap. He does a great job describing how sport got organised in the West Indies, and the meaning of that organization.

Perhaps the single best section of the book is about how sport came to be prominent a prominent feature in society and how those that dismiss sport as a part of culture are basically being snobs. The rise of cricket and sport in Britain was the avant-garde of a cultural shift that came to the US just a shade later. We adapted our own sports, but aggressively so to be differentiated from the Brits who were doing the same. James is able to describe the changing role and position of sport in society with a keen social historical eye, as well as do a lengthy analysis on the aesthesis of sport (which unfortunately aggressively privileges cricket).

James lived through a period of tremendous political and social change in the West Indies. He played a central role in the movement for independence and in breaking down class and racial barriers. He labels himself a Marxist early in the book, and I am not one to argue with his assessment of his politics, but from the stories in this book he sounds more like a democrat (little d). Through great skill he manages to give the reader a sense of West Indian society and its changes while always making sure that Cricket is his main subject matter.

But, the flaw of the book, for an American, is that Cricket is the subject matter. I have a better than average knowledge of cricket for an American, but the references in the book were still far over my head. I was lost when he went on about the interactions between batter and bowler, not even understanding the terminology. I think a reader would be even more lost if they didn't even understand the basic rules of cricket, including the scoring system. This is a great book. It is a satisfying read, and one that demonstrates a tremendous command of language and structure on the part of the author. I would almost say it is worth learning the basics of cricket to make all this accessible. But the key word in that sentence is almost. But by all means, if you know cricket then read this book, but then you probably already have.


An Earth-Shattering Book   May 3, 2002
 19 out of 23 found this review helpful

James's "Beyond a Boundary" is one of the finest literary works of the twentieth century. It asks questions that go to the heart of the human condition: where do democratic ideas come from? How does one strive towards self-emancipation in a totalitarian world? What tools may dismantle colonialism and neo-colonialism? What is the relationship between art and everyday life? Oh, and there's the social and cultural analysis of cricket, and how this endeavor fits into the larger picture. "Beyond a Boundary" is often referred to as the founding text of postcolonialism. It is more, far more. A caveat is in order, however. One cannot rush through this book. Take time to digest the ideas. A background in the history of the West Indies is also helpful