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• The Court of Experience

THE FIRST BEAUTIFUL GAME: STORIES OF OBSESSION IN REAL TENNIS (2006, Ronaldson Publications) BUY ONLINE from Ronaldson Publications, Blackwells or Amazon Bent rackets, painted crowns, penthouses and giraffes. Hand-stitched balls that ricochet around a court shaped like a medieval cloister. Fanatical players dedicated to a sport that has hardly changed in four centuries. Welcome to real tennis. In The First Beautiful Game, top amateur Roman Krznaric tells the personal stories behind real tennis, the ancient forerunner of lawn tennis. Its obsessives and eccentrics reveal why they play this extraordinary sport, what it means to them, and the unexpected lessons they have learned about ambition, passion, respect and love.

‘This is much more than an enchanting guide to the game of kings. Whatever your favourite sports may be, Roman Krznaric shows you how to expand the enjoyment you derive from them. A warm and imaginative book, full of surprises.' Theodore Zeldin, author of An Intimate History of Humanity

‘This book is the first to capture the real spirit of the game and its players. It's unique.' Rob Fahey, Real Tennis World Champion

Contents
Introduction
The Wordless Conversation
From Abbots to Zealots
Life in Court
Serving to Gentlemen
The Missionary
Adventures With My Father

Published in 2006 by Ronaldson Publications (182 pages with over 50 photos/illustrations, ISBN 978-1-899804-139)

ORDERING INFORMATION
Paperback edition £10.95 +£2 p&p
Leather-bound, signed library edition (70 copies) £75 +£3.50 p&p

BUY ONLINE from Ronaldson Publications, Blackwells or Amazon

Or send a cheque payable to ‘Ronaldson Publications' to: Ronaldson Publications, 13A Linkside Avenue, Oxford OX2 8HY, United Kingdom
Order and press inquiries to info@ronaldsonpublications.com

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THE COURT OF EXPERIENCE

A real tennis court is more than a real tennis court. It is a theatre of the imagination and a realm to explore the emotions and experience. This is what a court looks and feels like to me...

THE COURT OF EXPERIENCE
(design © 2006 Roman Krznaric and Kate Raworth)

The author, on the Oxford court, defending the corner of desperation.

© 2007 Roman Krznaric
Creative thinking about the art of living and social change