'It is a proper tribute to Waters that his book belongs in the finest library in the whole of sport... It may be the finest book yet written about a cricketer.' -- Michael Henderson The Cricketer 'Now (Trueman) has been brought to life in this wonderful new biography by Chris Waters. It is one of the finest sports books of recent years: well-researched, highly readable and packed with anecdotes.' - Leo McKinstry Mail on Sunday 'Thorough and well-judged biography. This book's strength is that, with the heavy assistance of Truemann's surviving family, it fleshes out his early life in south Yorkshire.' The Sunday Times 'A trenchant portrait of its subject...a thorough and judicious book. Trueman's flaws make it an uncomfortable read for devotees but to his credit the author has been as true to his trade as he is to his subject.' - Rob Bagchi The Guardian 'Chris Waters deserves extremely high marks for his welcome, authentically honest new biography of Fred Trueman' - Frank Keating - Sports Books of the Year The Guardian 'Perceptive biography...Waters has done a good job in disentangling the man from the myths, many of which were eagerly promoted by Fiery Fred himself.' Independent on Sunday 'His multi-coloured life is given sharper focus by the meticulous research and unforgiving anecdotes of Chris Waters. The strengths of the book lie in the breadth of insights from those closest to Trueman, along with Waters' own sharp conclusions.' The Cricketer magazine 'An incisive, entertaining biography...a rattling good read.' Blackpool Evening Gazette 'It is Waters' probing into Fred's background and psyche - what made him, and what made him tick - that gives his biography true distinction. A splendid biography, which it is hard to think will ever be bettered' The Northern Echo 'The fullest picture yet of a great sportsman and all-too-human being' Four stars **** Espncricinfo.com 'A work full of interest on every page as a biopic with a strong social narrative. Waters uses painstaking research and dozens of witnesses to piece together the unusual life of a complicated man. This book is a cut above average.' Clubcricket.co.uk 'The one which stood out to me was Fred Trueman. Don Mosey wrote a book about him in years gone by, John Arlott as well. Neither of them are anywhere near as good as this one.' John Rawling - SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR BBC Radio 5 Live 'Chris Waters deserves praise for his admirable handling of a difficult subject. Whether you like Trueman or not, this is a compelling portrait of a sporting legend.' Good Book Guide 'Honest and erudite portrait of the charismatic England and Yorkshire fast bowler' - BOOKS OF THE YEAR The Cricketer magazine 'One of the many virtues of Chris Waters's thoughtful and painstakingly researched biography is that he examines the Trueman myths and dismantles most of them, but leaves a vivid portrait of a complex and contradictory character who was at heart surprisingly insecure.' The Oldie 'Engrossing and typically well written' Country Life 'Separating fact from fiction is difficult, but Waters has done an outstanding job and, to his credit, presents the player warts and all. Of the cricket biographies I have read in the past twelve months, this is the best by some distance. Fred Trueman was one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time and deserved a 'proper' biography. Chris Waters has undoubtedly delivered.' Derbyshirecricket.blogspot.com 'The reader gains a tremendous insight into Fred Trueman's character from this book. Waters catches the essence of Fred Trueman admirably and gives us the fullest story yet of the man who once described himself as "t'finest bloody fast bowler who ever drew breath.' Andrewrobertscricketstatistics.com 'Chris Waters brings flesh and blood to the man Harold Wilson once dubbed "the greatest living Yorkshireman" and endears him even more to the generations of cricket fans who have been weaned on stories of Fiery Fred. Waters has mined for the real man... Only now can we see the legend in its true light. And it's even bigger because of that.' Sheffield Telegraph 'Unusually searching and entertaining cricket biography.' Times Literary Supplement 'An often brilliant and unsparing portrait. It's a bold, well-written account, full of humanity. The talented author...writes with affection for the game and Trueman's own rough-and-ready culture.' - David Foot Western Daily Press
