The number-one bestseller Nick Hornby explores childhood, adolescence and adulthood through the ups and downs of football in the million-copy-selling, William Hill Sports Book of the Year winner, Fever Pitch.

'I fell in love with football as I was later to fall in love with women: suddenly, inexplicably, uncritically, giving no thought to the pain or disruption it would bring. . . '

For many people watching football is mere entertainment, to some it's more like a ritual; but to others, its h...ighs and lows provide a narrative to life itself. For Nick Hornby, his devotion to the game has provided one of few constants in a life where the meaningful things - like growing up, leaving home and forming relationships, both parental and romantic - have rarely been as simple or as uncomplicated as his love for Arsenal.

Brimming with wit and honesty, Fever Pitch catches perfectly what it really means to be a football fan - and in doing so, what it means to be a man.

'A spanking 7-0 away win of a football book. . . inventive, honest, funny, heroic, charming' Jim White,Independent

'Funny, wise and true' Roddy Doyle

'Hornby has put his finger on truths that have been unspoken for generations. Furthermore, he writes beautifully. A damn good read. Buy it' Tom Humphries, Irish Times

Nick Hornby has captivated readers and achieved widespread critical acclaim for his comic, well-observed novels About a Boy, High Fidelity, How to be Good, A Long Way Down (shortlisted for the Whitbread Award), Slam and Juliet, Naked. His two additional works of non-fiction, 31 Songs(shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award) and The Complete Polysyllabic Spree are also available from Penguin.