Books by Richard Parry

Swallows and Hawke is a captivating account of 80 years of compelling cricket. From South Africa's stunning first ever Test win by one wicket in 1907 to Syd Barnes and Herby Taylor locked in iconic combat in 1914, to Cliff Gladwin's scrambled last-ball victory in 1949, all the standout moments are here. On the pitch, the cricketers faced extreme heat and dust, unplayable wickets and a wily and resilient opposition. Off the pitch they inspected mining compounds, were terrified by Zulu dancers and found themselves in jail or chased by rhinos. Over 15 tours the emissaries of Empire bestrode the pavilions of power with mine-owners and politicians, from Kruger to Verwoerd. They turned a blind eye to oppression and resistance and colluded with a new national mythology of white supremacy featuring ox-wagons and Blood River. The cricketing dramas take place within the perennial African struggles over land, labour and freedom as the cricketing relationship between MCC and South Africa forges the bonds of Empire.

Too Black to Wear White is the compelling story of Krom Hendricks, the first black South African sporting hero. One of the world's best fast bowlers, he was barred by Cecil Rhodes from playing for his country on grounds of race. In challenging the establishment, Hendricks became the central figure in the evolution of sports segregation.

This book explores the governance of the UK, and the process of constitutional change, between Scotland's independence referendum in September 2014 and the UK general election in May 2015. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of UK politics, devolution, constitutional change, public attitudes, and territorial politics.