The Corner Stone of English Cricket is a reflective and historically grounded examination of English cricket’s traditions, values, and formative institutions.
Written by Gerald French—a soldier, sportsman, and cricket writer—the book blends anecdote, history, and personal observation to argue that the game’s enduring strength lies in its club culture, county structure, and amateur ethos.
Rather than a season-by-season chronicle, French offers a thoughtful meditation on how cricket developed its distinctive English character, drawing on experiences from village greens to county grounds. The volume is fully illustrated and includes a coloured frontispiece by the Earl of Ypres, adding artistic and historical interest for collectors.
Published in the inter-war period by Hutchinson, this work sits comfortably alongside other classic English cricket reflections by writers such as Arlott and Cardus, and is particularly appealing to readers interested in the cultural foundations of the game rather than pure statistics.
The Corner Stone of English Cricket | Lt Col The Hon Gerald French DSO
Title: The Corner Stone of English Cricket
Author: Lt.-Col. The Hon. Gerald French, D.S.O.
Publisher: Hutchinson & Co. (Publishers) Ltd
Place: London (with New York, Melbourne, Sydney, Cape Town listed)
Edition: First Edition, circa 1940s
Format: Hardcover with dust jacket
Pages: 167
Illustrations: Fully illustrated; coloured frontispiece by Earl of Ypres
Condition: Dust Jacket: Present; price clipped; light age wear with a small closed tear to the top of the verso; colours remain attractive. Boards: Green cloth, clean and firm with bright gilt spine lettering. Spine: Straight and solid. Interior: Previous owner’s name to pastedown; a few minor foxing spots; otherwise clean and well bound. Overall: Very Good copy with a presentable dust jacket
