Customer Reviews
Behind the Curtain - By: Mr. G. M. Jones, 03 Oct 2008 
I always look for football books that are a little bit `off the beaten track'. 'Behind the Curtain' therefore looked like an ideal candidate to discover more about what largely remains to many, the unknown world of East European football. Sadly, this book didn't quite do it for me. Repetition reared its ugly head throughout with endless tales of corruption dominating most of the text & most of the countries mentioned. In fact, once you heard one corrupt story it was difficult to stop confusing it with other similar tales form a previous chapter. For me, the author has tried to pack too much detail into too short a book. Its breath taking pace means you never seem to really get to know the characters involved. Great idea for a book but presentation could have been far easier on the eye.Behind the Curtain: Travelsin Eastern European Football
dry and humourless - By: Kharms, 17 Jun 2008 Thorough but written entirely without humour. Doesn't make any contact with the places he is writing about. Disappointing...
Converted! - By: Aingeal, 13 Feb 2007 
I have to admit the idea of reading a sports book doesn't fill me with boundless enthusiasm, particularly one subtitled `Travelsin Eastern European Football' but having read so many exuberant reviews I decided to fight my prejudices & give it a go. Imagine my surprise to find that it really is a terrific book! Funny, warm & intelligently written.
Although I didn't read it for the sport (although I have it on good authority that it's pretty damn important) it was the combination of social history, travelogue & wry humour that completely won me over. What did surprise me was that I also came away feeling considerably more knowledgeable & actually enthusiastic about football, & also with a real hankering to explore Eastern Europe. What better testament is there than the conversion of a sceptic!
An Excellent Read - By: Mr. M. R. Wassell, 09 Feb 2007 This is a well researched, very interesting account of footballin many Eastern European countries. Each chapter is well worth reading & personally, I have learnt a great deal about footballin countries which get 1 or 2 lines a yearin the British sporting press.
Engaging and informative - By: Robert Francis, 31 Dec 2006 
As a regular traveller & visitor to Eastern Europe, & having takenin quite a few gamesin the process, I found this book most interesting & would heartily recommend it to anyone interestedin the region as a whole.
Minor criticisms would include the strange omission of Czech Republic/Slovakia & the Baltic states, & there is the distinct impression that this book should be viewed more as an introduction to the issues at stake rather than act as a definitive guide.
Nevertheless, Jonathan Wilson (who cannot be much more than 30, judging from some subtle datingin the text) clearly has excellent knowledge & experience of the area (with the possible exception of the Caucausus region, which seems to have been more of a flying visit) & hence this book should be required reading for any football & travel enthusiast who dares to look further than the dreaded Premiership for their sporting thrills.
