Arthur Ashe

A Life

By: Raymond Arsenault

Narrated by: Desean Terry

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK

A “thoroughly captivating biography” (The San Francisco Chronicle) of American icon Arthur Ashe—the Jackie Robinson of men’s tennis—a pioneering athlete who, after breaking the color barrier, went on to become an influential civil rights activist and public intellectual.

Born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1943, by the age of eleven, Arthur Ashe was one of the state’s most talented black tennis players. He became the first African American to play for the US Davis Cup team in 1963, and two years later he won the NCAA singles championship. In 1968, he rose to a number one national ranking. Turning professional in 1969, he soon became one of the world’s most successful tennis stars, winning the Australian Open in 1970 and Wimbledon in 1975. After retiring in 1980, he served four years as the US Davis Cup captain and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985.

In this “deep, detailed, thoughtful chronicle” (The New York Times Book Review), Raymond Arsenault chronicles Ashe’s rise to stardom on the court. But much of the book explores his off-court career as a human rights activist, philanthropist, broadcaster, writer, businessman, and celebrity. In the 1970s and 1980s, Ashe gained renown as an advocate for sportsmanship, education, racial equality, and the elimination of apartheid in South Africa. But from 1979 on, he was forced to deal with a serious heart condition that led to multiple surgeries and blood transfusions, one of which left him HIV-positive. After devoting the last ten months of his life to AIDS activism, Ashe died in February 1993 at the age of forty-nine, leaving an inspiring legacy of dignity, integrity, and active citizenship.

Based on prodigious research, including more than one hundred interviews, Arthur Ashe puts Ashe in the context of both his time and the long struggle of African-American athletes seeking equal opportunity and respect, and “will serve as the standard work on Ashe for some time” (Library Journal, starred review).

A Story of Struggle and Triumph Intertwined

This was a fantastic story of a man who constantly tried to conduct himself in a manner of professionalism despite all the things the world threw at him. I really enjoyed hearing about his life in tennis, the struggles he faced both on and off the court, and the civil rights and other causes he fought for even to the very end.

Great story, detailed and complete

I took up this book in an effort to learn more of topics I had little exposure. I’m glad that I did.

Comprehensive history of the legend AA

Comprehensive history of the life of Arthur Ashe. I learned a lot and found the reading mostly enjoyable.
My only complaint was the cringeworthy mispronunciation of famous names and places.

Written with meticulous care

The author left no stone unturned and deftly covered this legend’s life in great detail and meticulous care. Well done!

Well written biography

Hard to get into, but once past the childhood chapters, a great story. Narrator misspronounced many names. Should have been proofed better