Tim Parks is an English author and journalist who moved to Italy more than 20 years ago. In an effort to fully immerse himself into the culture of his new home, he began to support the local professional soccer team, Hellas Verona. This book is his diary of a season spent following Verona to all of their home and away matches.
Parks travelled the length and breadth of Italy accompanied by a motley and colourful band of supporters. Some were professionals, some students, some would-be hooligans, but all embraced Parks and welcomed him as one of their own...which he soon became. This book is not only an account of the trials and tribulations of a professional soccer team over the course of one season, but it is also an entertaining study of the Italian people and a travelogue of its cities and towns.
You don't have to be a soccer fan to enjoy this book although it certainly helps. If you are a soccer fan, you will be able to relate to Parks' experiences and you will realise that sports fans - and particularly soccer fans - are really the same everywhere. If you know a lot about Italian Calcio, you will really enjoy the book. If you want to learn more about the game, the country, the culture and the people, this is the perfect introduction.
