The Grass of Another Country: A Journey Through the World of Soccer

The book offers a really lucid and beautifully crafted discussion of soccer, as seen through the eyes of an American enthusiast, during the excitement of the World Cup and on Italian "grass." The author has a gift for the thoughtfully rendered sentence, so the reader is treated not just to the fun and highlights of the game, but to the pleasure of language. Anyone who appreciates soccer as well as lovely and yet very pointed writing will be thoroughly delighted by this book. It reveals a lot about the passion of people who like to play and/or watch others play soccer, while it reveals so much about the differing cultural attitudes toward the sport. The author writes with such sharp and yet sensitive observation that while the reader is informed of the realities - sometimes ugly and sometimes beautiful- of the world of soccer, the reader is simultaneously touched by the tenderness of the writer's vision. Merrill deserves credit for his insight and for his own passion, that of an athlete and a gifted, thoughtful writer. The time spent reading this book is worth each moment. I hope you can get your hands on a copy and enjoy it!

Grass of Another Country is a great story that delights the reader, while informing him at the same time. Merrill gives the reader his accounts of his "Journey Through the World of Soccer", and tells of American attempts at Professional Soccer (and why they didn't work.) Merrill's writing style is not only easy to comprehend, but also fun to read. A definite must for all soccer fans (and non-soccer fans alike!!)