Munichs: 'Absolutely gripping.' The Times, 'Best books of 2024'
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By David Peace (Author)
avg rating
2 reviews
A TIMES, INDEPENDENT, FINANCIAL TIMES, AND IRISH TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR
‘A magnificent book.’ MIKE ATHERTON
‘Tender, atmospheric – and hopeful.’ iNEWS
‘A masterpiece.’ IRISH TIMES
‘Electrifying.’ GUARDIAN
From the author of The Damned Utd and Red or Dead, an extraordinary novel about Britain, sport and our collective past.
February 6, 1958, British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on take-off at Munich Airport. On board were the young Manchester United team, ‘the Busby Babes’, and the journalists who followed them. Twenty-one of the passengers died instantly, four were left fighting for their lives while six more were critically injured.
Munichs is the story of the crash and its aftermath, of those who survived and those who did not, of how Britain and football changed, and how it did not; a novel of tragedy, but also of hope.
‘Profound . . . A brilliant, brilliant book.’ DAVID WHITEHOUSE
‘Luminous and illuminating . . . completely gripping.’ ASHLEY HICKSON-LOVENCE
‘Powerful.’ TARIQ GODDARD
Readers loved Munichs:
‘A brilliant read that provokes so many emotions. Superbly captured the grief of a city and indeed a nation.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A phenomenal read. It’s for everyone regardless of football allegiances – totally brilliant!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A gripping and intense from beginning to end, evoking a profound sense of heartbreak. Powerful and moving.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Astonishing. The grief, the sadness, the guilt and the turmoil. It’s all here. A brilliant read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviews
This was our book club read for this month, and when I saw it I was a little downhearted as I am not a lover of football or Manchester United. The book is a fictionalised version of events from February 1958 starting with the Munich Air Crash in February to the FA Cup Final in the same year.
I found this book very readable, even though it was a little grim with the details of the crash, deaths and injuries to players. It surprised me that I was enjoying reading it as it was about football, and I am a cricket fan. Although it is a very serious book detailing the crash and its victims, I felt that the emphasis on Jimmy Murphy and his attempts to carry on after his boss, Matt Busby, was so seriously injured which meant dealing with the aftermath of the crash and keeping the club and its players playing, very uplifting.
This book is a must read for United fans, but I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in finding out about the history of Manchester United Football Club.
This was our book club read for this month, and when I saw it I was a little downhearted as I am not a lover of football or Manchester United. The book is a fictionalised version of events from February 1958 starting with the Munich Air Crash in February to the FA Cup Final in the same year.
I found this book very readable, even though it was a little grim with the details of the crash, deaths and injuries to players. It surprised me that I was enjoying reading it as it was about football, and I am a cricket fan. Although it is a very serious book detailing the crash and its victims, I felt that the emphasis on Jimmy Murphy and his attempts to carry on after his boss, Matt Busby, was so seriously injured which meant dealing with the aftermath of the crash and keeping the club and its players playing, very uplifting.
This book is a must read for United fans, but I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in finding out about the history of Manchester United Football Club.
