Bradman the Great

Bradman the Great is a classic mid-20th-century biography that reflects how Sir Donald Bradman was viewed within a decade of his retirement, at a time when his achievements were already passing into legend but were still within living memory.

B. J. Wakley presents a traditional narrative biography, charting Bradman’s rise from rural New South Wales prodigy to the dominant force in world cricket. Written in the authoritative, measured tone of post-war sporting literature, the book emphasises Bradman’s technique, temperament, and statistical supremacy, while also addressing the expectations and pressures placed upon him as Australia’s pre-eminent sporting figure.

Of particular note is the full-page portrait illustration by John T. Kenby, which adds visual and artistic interest to the volume and enhances its appeal as a display piece within a cricket library.