Books to Adopt

Pierce Egan’s Anecdotes of the turf, the chase, the ring and the stage cover image

Pierce Egan’s Anecdotes of the turf, the chase, the ring and the stage (1827)

by Pierce Egan Return to list Adopt this book

Pierce Egan (1772-1849) is often described as the first sporting journalist and author. Anecdotes of the turf was written in a light-hearted style and includes a lively collection of topical sporting news, stories and verses, interspersed with hand-coloured plates by the caricaturist Thomas Lane. Horse racing, hunting and boxing feature prominently, but rat-catching, billiards, wrestling, fishing, even a hopping match (pictured) and drunken marital squabbles, are all legitimate targets for his journalism.

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