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

J.P. Donleavy
from De Alfonce Tennis

To purchase books by
J.P. Donleavy go to the
JPD Buyers' Directory

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.
Most readers will probably assume the entire work and the sport itself to be a satire of upper class
tennis, but Donleavy has repeatedly stated in interviews that he takes De Alfonce tennis seriously,
that it is a real and actively played sport. In the 1998 edition of Contemporary Authors, Vol. 62,
under the heading "Career:" it is stated, "Founder with son Philip Donleavy and producer Robert
Mitchell of De Alfonce Tennis Association for the Promotion of the Superlative Game of Eccentric
Champions."  Just what's for real and what's tongue-in-cheek, I suppose, is for Donleavy to know
and us to find out.

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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

No photo yet.
Edition being sought.

De Alfonce Tennis

Binding? | Publisher? Milano, 1986  - ? pages

Le tennis De Alfonce

Wraps | Denoël, Paris, 1986  - 281 pages