The Damned Utd

Critics

• Once more unto the pitch

  The Damned Utd by David Peace 350pp, Faber, £12.99 The 44 days in 1974 that Brian Clough spent as manager of Leeds United - what a great idea for a novel. It's self-contained disaster, farce and tragedy in one, as short, sharp and effective as the kn ... (read full critics)

  guardian.co.uk published on Sat, 25 Sep 2010

2 Reviews

• 

  Excellent faction....

  Well, just finished this interesting novelisation of a turbulent period in the history of Leeds United - 44 days of Brian Clough as manager in 1974. Peace's innovative writing style (also evident in his excellent Japanese thriller, 'Tokyo Year Zero') is very much to the fore here, with fast switchin ... (continue)

  Well, just finished this interesting novelisation of a turbulent period in the history of Leeds United - 44 days of Brian Clough as manager in 1974. Peace's innovative writing style (also evident in his excellent Japanese thriller, 'Tokyo Year Zero') is very much to the fore here, with fast switching between perspectives and events, and an almost visceral connection with the central character.

  Readers are therefore exposed to Clough's inner tension, anxiety and paranoia, as experienced and seen through his eyes. Though this book is technically fiction, I suspect it reveals more truth about Clough's reaction to Leeds (a team he despised previously), and theirs to him, than the multitude of articles published at the time.

  A great read. and streets ahead of Nick Hornby's bland, overrated 'Fever Pitch'. In 'The Damned United', football's system is a destructive, despoiling phenomenon bringing out the very worst side of people and communities.

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  Ian Hodgson said on May 17, 2012 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

• 

  Great book. Rapid paced pageturner all about the fears, doubts, insecurities and machinations of a football manager.

  Found the pace really suited the subject matter, and loved the way the atmosphere was created.

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  Mearso said on Mar 13, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Book Details

• Rating:
  (29)
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• English Books
• Others 368 Pages
• ISBN-10: 0571249558
• ISBN-13: 9780571249558
• Pub date: Mar 19, 2009
• Also available as: Paperback, Audio CD and eBook
• In other languages: other languages Libri Italiani

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