Jai Alai: A Cultural History of the Fastest Game in the World

Paula Morton provides a fun, concise introduction to jai alai, a fast-paced ball game with ancient roots that is admired by fans for the sport's power and spectacle. Cesta punta, as the game is known in its Basque homeland, became a phenomenon during the twentieth century as organized jai alai spread from Spain into the Caribbean, Latin America, the United States, and Asia. This book outlines the multifaceted history of the sport, from its beginnings in Basque country to its North American "unveiling" at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Centennial Exposition and World's Fair and to its rise and fall in popularity in the United States. Guest essays and historic photographs offer extensive insight into the sport's fascinating history. Morton further explores the players and venues, providing a carefully crafted and thoroughly researched look into jai alai. Sports lovers and cultural history enthusiasts will marvel at the sport's unique history and reach.

Author: Paula E. Morton
Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
Published: 04/01/2019
Pages: 176
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.40lbs
Size: 8.50h x 8.70w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9780826355492

Review Citation(s):
Choice 08/01/2019

About the Author
Morton, Paula E.: - Paula E. Morton is an independent journalist and the author of Tabloid Valley: Supermarket News and American Culture and Tortillas: A Cultural History (UNM Press).