Corbett, James J. – The Roar of the Crowd

Description

Corbett, James J. ‘The Roar of the Crowd’ 1926 2nd edition, 329 pages. Red colored cloth with black titles. Former owners book stamp and signature in multiple places inside front and rear covers, else good condition. Clean, straight and tight binding. It also has a brand new brightly colored mylar protected reproduction of the original 1925 dust jacket.

The 1926 second edition hardcover of The Roar of the Crowd: The True Tale of the Rise and Fall of a Champion by James J. Corbett is a 329-page autobiography issued primarily by publishers like Grosset & Dunlap and Garden City Publishing. Initially serialized in The Saturday Evening Post and first published in book format in 1925, this 1926 printing expanded the reach of one of the most significant early firsthand accounts of boxing’s transformation into a regulated sport.

Book Details:
• Author: James J. “Gentleman Jim” Corbett (World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, 1892–1897)
• Publishers (1926 Editions): Grosset & Dunlap (New York/London); Garden City Publishing Co. (Garden City, NY)
• Publication Year: 1926 (Second Edition / Early Reprint; first published 1925 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
• Format: Hardcover octavo (8vo), typically bound in red, orange, or cloth-covered boards and issued with a pictorial dust jacket
• Length: xiii + 329 pages (often featuring a handful of publisher promotional advertisement pages at the back)

Content & Overview:
• The Father of Modern Boxing: Written in an engaging, colloquial, and highly accessible first-person style, the memoir captures the life and philosophy of the man who revolutionized pugilism. Corbett chronicles his evolution as a fighter who replaced the brutal “stand-and-slug” mentality of the bare-knuckle era with footwork, defense, and calculated strategy.
• Defeating the King: The centerpiece of the narrative is Corbett’s meticulously detailed account of his historic September 7, 1892, championship bout in New Orleans. He outlines how his “scientific boxing” style allowed him to dodge, out-maneuver, and ultimately knock out the seemingly invincible John L. Sullivan to claim the world heavyweight crown.
• The Marquis of Queensberry Era: The text serves as an invaluable historical window into the dawn of modern prize fighting. Corbett was the very first heavyweight champion to win the title wearing padded gloves under the Marquis of Queensberry rules, and he describes navigating a time when the sport was still illegal in many jurisdictions.
• A Renaissance Athlete: Beyond his ring generalship, Corbett shines a light on his multifaceted life outside of boxing. The book touches upon his experiences as a college-educated bank clerk, a popular theatrical stage headliner, an actor, and a high-profile sports coach.
• Illustrations: The book is enhanced by a portrait frontispiece of “Gentleman Jim” alongside roughly 7 additional black-and-white photographic plates depicting significant fights, opponents, and promotional stills from his life.