Cricket in the West Indies has such a long and complex history and it deserves a history that matches the mix of sport and politics that is cricket in the Caribbean. "Beyond a Boundary" by CLR James was extremely good, although sadly now somewhat out of date. Former Prime Minister of Jamaica Michael Manley's "A History of West Indies Cricket" holds an advantage over "Beyond a Boundary" due to it being more recent (although it too is now out of date), although Manley cannot match James's almost lyrical prose.

Manley also has the advantage of being personally involved with some aspects of West Indies cricket (although he refers to himself in the third person for some reason), especially the 1980s Rebel tours to South Africa, and we get a good personal look at the events around the tour.

As the depressing deterioration of West Indies cricket continues, "A History of West Indies Cricket" is a good example of the once-great history of West Indies cricket. ( )

Manley brings an amateur's enthusiasm and scholarly heft to this thick study, strongly influenced by C.L.R. James's *Beyond A Boundary* of the history of the West Indies cricket team from its beginnings to the 1980s. This is a book no Caribbeanist, and no lover of West Indies cricket should be without. ( )