”Farmers don't play tennis. But they could, and they could do it well.” With its leadoff in this old statement, Gudmund Skjeldal writes a book about what makes the sport of tennis so captivating.
It is the story of Wimbledon's magical grass, Roger Federer and Serena Williams' elaborate games. It is the drama of the days of Björn Borg and John McEnroe, when Norwegian cities and streets were completely empty when the final was being played. Like other good games such as football and chess, tennis kindles a tension reminiscent of life itself. Tennis is a sport of extreme concentration, whether you're a top player or a content amateur. It is also a solitary sport, and a sport where you depend on another person. Perhaps it is for these reasons that many books and song lyrics are written about tennis. The book Wimbledon is shaped like a waiting period in which these books and experiences are reflected upon, and a colorful reportage trip to Wimbledon itself.
Noen bøker er idrettsprestasjoner. Dette er en slik.
Sven Egil Omdal, Bergens Tidende
Tennis for tenkere 08.04.2017
Dette er sportsskriving av høy klasseBjørn Gabrielsen, Dagens Næringsliv
Å tenne på tennis
Du trenger ikke være en av tilbederne for å få glede av denne boken, selv om det hjelper, og det skyldes først og fremst forfatter Gudmund Skjeldals livlige språk, fantasifulle billedbruk og sterke personlige engasjement.Mari Grydeland, Aftenposten
Mekka for tennisnerdar 07.04.2017
Her vert språket hans like elegant som dei utrulege stoppballane Federer kan få til.Arild Pedersen, Dag og Tid
Gudmund Skjeldal (1970–) has a degree in History of Ideas and the author of several critically acclaimed books. He was a member of the Norwegian cross-country team in the 1990s and headed the campaign for climate concerns “White Winter” in 2007 and 2008.
