Next, John Barrett writes what the book states is an "Introduction," but in fact comprises the bulk of the entire work, a history of the sport's development. He traces tennis rules from the days of King Charles X, when tennis was known as jeu de paume and was played without racquets, to 1978's introduction of the rules regarding racquet sizes and string regulations. Barrett's display of knowledge about the sport and its history, and of the people and technology that made lasting impressions on the tennis world yet rarely receive any recognition, is absolutely fascinating. This section of the work briefly documents the sport's royal history, but focuses on tennis since the nineteenth century. Although I was slightly disappointed that the book did not elaborate on the development and significance of tennis before then and outside of Great Britain, I learned more about modern tennis than I expected. I had never given much thought to net height and court design before I read Barrett's notes; but now when I watch tennis, I see the tiny details that make the game great.

The final and, perhaps, most intriguing part contains two of tennis' original rule books: The Major's Game of Lawn Tennis (1873) and Rules of Lawn Tennis (1878). Major Walter Clopton Wingfield developed the first rule book when he saw that the game of croquet was losing in popularity. His original game was called sphairistike, Greek for 'skill with ball'; but Arthur Balfour, eventual Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, convinced him to call it Lawn Tennis. Authors of the Rules of Lawn Tennis, Harry Gem and Augurio Perera took their version of Lawn Tennis and created the first Lawn Tennis clubs throughout Great Britain.

While reading the two sets of nineteenth century tomes, I marveled at the language in which some of the basic rules were expressed. I suggest even avid tennis players read the two sets of rules, as they give hints from the developers of the sport that are still relevant today. My favorite part of The Major's rule book was his suggestion for winter tennis: "In a hard frost the nets may be erected on the ice, and the players being equipped with skates, the Game assumes a new feature, and gives an opening for the exhibition of much grace and science." I bet Maria Sharapova never thought her "cow on ice" comment, regarding her awkward movement on clay, might have been to some extent in touch with the original intentions of tennis. The Major's rule book also gives more of a post-modern view of tennis history than Barrett's account, by tracing the game back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. The Rules of Lawn Tennis features guidelines more similar to what we are used to today. It is amazing to think how the rules changed in five short years between the two rule books and yet have maintained a presence in tennis long over a century later.

I was pleasantly surprised with the information I learned in The Original Rules of Tennis and feel much more satisfied being a tennis fan armed with historical knowledge of the game I love. This is a perfect book for any tennis enthusiast, whether one knows everything about tennis or nothing at all. I guarantee that, no matter who you are, you will learn something new about the sport after reading this volume. At six by four inches, and only a quarter of an inch thick, The Original Rules of Tennis is a perfect gift for yourself or a fellow tennis fan.

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