"...Be damned sir, the mumpish miseries, and let's say hello to wholesome perspiration."

- J.P. Donleavy from De Alfonce Tennis

The jacket of this unusual book states "A Legend by J.P. Donleavy."It is written in first person, using the author's real name and mentions factual events in Donleavy's life at the time, such as a recent divorce, legal battles over publishing rights and so forth. So there is certainly some degree of non-fiction to this piece. In fact, it is very difficult to tell where fact leaves off and farce begins. As far as the sport itself goes, it is indeed for real, played by seeded "real" tennis players and others, ranging from high-ranking U.S. Naval officers to the knighted nobility in the U.K.

For more on the game, go to the Donleavy - Sportsman page.

De Alfonce Tennis: The Superlative Game of Eccentric Champions Its History, Accoutrements, Rules, Conduct and Regimen

Cloth | Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1984 - ISBN 0297785427 - 223 pages

First UK trade edition.

De Alfonce Tennis: The Superlative Game of Eccentric Champions Its History, Accoutrements, Rules, Conduct and Regimen

Cloth | Dutton/Lawrence, New York, 1984 - ISBN 0525243240 - 223 pages

De Alfonce Tennis: The Superlative Game of Eccentric Champions Its History, Accoutrements, Rules, Conduct and Regimen

Wraps | Fontana Paperbacks (Flamingo ed.), London, 1985 - ISBN 0006541186 - 223 pages

First UK paperback edition.

To purchase books by J.P. Donleavy, go to the Buyers' Guide.

Le tennis De Alfonce

Wraps | Denoël, Paris, 1986

French translation. Soft cover with dust jacket. Scarce.

De Alfonce Tennis

Wraps | Feltrinelli, Milano, 1986 - ISBN 8807040131 - 217 pages

Italian translation. Scarce.