The Hollow Ball
The Hollow Ball by Sam Hanna Bell is a poignant exploration of ambition and sacrifice set in 1930s Belfast. Published by Blackstaff Pr in 1991, this 1st paperback edition spans 248 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows sixteen-year-old David Minnis, who toils in a clothing factory while nurturing dreams of soccer stardom. As he navigates the challenges of poverty and personal relationships, David’s journey reveals the complexities of loyalty and the cost of ambition.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of themes woven throughout the story, including the struggles of the Irish working class and the allure of sports as a means of escape. David’s ascent in the soccer world comes at a price, as he grapples with betrayal and the consequences of his choices. The book delves into the tension between personal aspirations and communal ties, showcasing Bell’s elegant prose that captures both the beauty and turmoil of Ireland. This edition invites readers to reflect on the sacrifices made in the pursuit of success and the impact of those decisions on relationships and identity.
Official synopsis Publisher
From Publishers Weekly
Sixteen-year-old David Minnis works for menial wages in a Belfast clothing factory in the 1930s. His poverty affords few diversions; he courts Maureen, the sister of his best friend, “Boney,” and plays soccer for the company team. Frustrated, David labors half-heartedly, desperately seeking a way out of dead-end factory life. As he achieves success and notoriety on the soccer field, signing to a minor-league team and steadily making his way up, he decides to win his fortune with his feet. Bell’s tale is much more than a sports story: David is a Faustian soccer hero who abandons love and loyalty for a “hollow ball,” with one betrayal leading to another. In an early foreshadowing he lies to his over-burdened mother to afford a pair of soccer boots. He turns his back on the politically active Boney and the Irish working class in their attempts to unionize. In a final break he leaves his fiancee and his country to join an English team. Bell, the author of December Bride, shapes elegant, succinct prose to evoke the beauty and turmoil of Ireland and the excitement of soccer. Bell died last year; this book’s U.S. publication marks the passing of a great writer.
Copyright 1991 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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