Bill Edrich

A fascinating story ... Great research, beautifully written and I loved it. -- Sir Geoffrey Boycott
Bill Edrich shines through these pages ... a wonderful book that needed to be written. -- Henry Blofeld, former 'Test Match Special' commentator
It's Bill Edrich to a T. An excellent book, no doubt about that. -- Dickie Bird, English former cricketer and international cricket umpire
What an extraordinary life. What an extraordinary man. In Leo McKinstry, Edrich has the biographer his remarkable story deserves. -- Richard Whitehead, former deputy books editor, 'The Times'
A triumph. Leo McKinstry superbly draws together the many strands of a fascinating but flawed figure. -- Lawrence Booth, 'Wisden' editor
McKinstry’s biography will fascinate cricket lovers. * The Times *
this is a must-get * RAF News *
Entertaining. McKinstry is a sporting and political biographer highly attuned to historical atmosphere ... Edrich is proof that greatness in sport and life are very different things. * New Statesman *
This meticulously researched biography reveals the man behind the controversy in glorious detail. An exquisite read. * The Sun *
An eye-popping biography. * Daily Mail *
I was fascinated by this colourful life lived at breakneck speed in colourful times ... it’s a page-turner! * Sunday Express *
Brilliant * Daily Express *
An entertaining and deftly told account of a popular, but wayward, flawed character. * Country Life *
a subtle writer with a deep understanding of the era in which [Edrich] lived * The Telegraph *
This portrait of a gifted and not particularly pleasant man adds another feather to his hat. * The Critic *
a lively read * The Cricketer *
Forget Andrew Flintoff’s tipsy excursion on a pedalo, or Kevin Pietersen’s disloyal text messages. Bill Edrich puts them all in the shade. * Wisden *
Written in a pacy style, the author takes us through the highs and lows of a multi-faceted and colourful life of an RAF hero and England cricketing great. An entertaining read. * Aviation News *
written in a pacey style ... An entertaining read. * Britain at War *
[a] must-read… a well-researched account of a remarkable life. * Financial Times *
A lively record of Edrich’s life… ideal Christmas present. * Aeroplane *
[one] of the very best cricket books of the year -- Paul Edwards * The Cricketer *
Top Book of 2024 -- Richard Hobson, Reviews editor * The Cricketer *
[a] perceptive commentary on how cricket and Edrich’s career and status reflected the social norms of wider society. … McKinstry also handles Edrich’s wartime career and its likely impact on his behaviour and personality with sensitivity … The picture of Edrich that emerges from McKinstry’s well-written and engaging biography is of man of mercurial and exuberant temperament who was indomitable when at the crease. -- Philip Cottam * The Arbuturian *