For fans of Roy and HG this is a must read about the role of sport in Australia, with HG’s usual acerbic wit and humour. Whilst learning about and remembering key sporting moments in history I laughed myself throughout the book.

‘Sport was once described as the most important thing of the least important things in our life. Hopefully this book proves it.’

If you are familiar with the work of Roy (‘Rampaging’ Roy Slaven) and H.G. Nelson (aka as John Doyle and Greig Pickhaver) then H.G.’s magnum opus is the book for you. If you are not familiar with Roy and HG, then not only did you miss expert commentary of the Sydney Olympics in 2000, with Fatso the Wombat, but you have also missed the best ever calls of the Rugby League State of Origin games, live from the card table. Tragic.

But in this serious real and imagined history of Australian sport, H.G Nelson takes us across the full field of Australian sporting endeavour. You may have forgotten John Howard’s bowling, but no one over the age of 60 would be unaware of Harold Holt’s swimming. I learned new things about ‘Aussie Joe’ Bugner (what a hero!) but H.G. Nelson’s memory of Sir Jack Brabham is a little different from mine. Still, that’s what history is, isn’t? Different views of the past.

H.G. doesn’t just confine himself to the past, he’s also thinking about possible sports in the future:
‘When hand-eye coordination, finger-tip keyboard skills and rapid joystick activity are the athletic tools of war today, how long before they become the basis of Olympic competition?’

As I read the book, I could see H.G. speaking the words, recounting the moments of Australian sporting triumphs and tragedies, and the bits in between.

‘A sporting nation is only limited by its imagination.’

Absolutely. And we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously: H.G. doesn’t.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and PanMacmillan Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

In typical HG Nelson’s style, this book was an excellent read, fast paced and funny, and I couldn’t but enjoyed every moment of it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for so kindly gifting me this book.