List of Plates Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction: Sport in its Social Context PART I: CASE-STUDIES The Spread of Field Sports The Growth of Gymnastics: Patriotism or Pleasure? The English Sports: Gentlemen and Players Cyclings as a Commercial Spectacle Bullfighting and Cockfighting: he Survival of Regional Culture PART II: MAJOR THEMES The Tradition of Violence: Brutality, Hooliganism and Combativity Sport and Sociability Sport and Status Sport and Politics: Ideology and Recruitment Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index