This week’s guest is one of the names synonymous with great sportswriting in the UK: Donald McRae.
\n\nDon has twice won the prestigious William Hill Sports Book of the Year award, and his latest book - In Sunshine or in Shadow: How Boxing Brought Hope in the Troubles - is shortlisted for this year’s award.
\n\nHe has written 12 books in all, and has also conducted more than 2,500 interviews for the Guardian.
\n\nDon talks to us about his atypical route to sports journalism: born in apartheid South Africa, he moved to London in exile to escape a jail sentence for his unwillingness to serve military service back home.
\n\nThere are also some outstanding nuts-and-bolts tips on how to conduct and write a great interview, the kind of advice university courses charge thousands for.
\n\nHis picks are: A Handful of Summers by Gordon Forbes; Hugh McIlvanney’s report on the tragic turning point in the life of Welsh boxer Johnny Owen; David Remnick’s book about Muhammad Ali, King of the World.
\n\nGet in touch - email behindthelines@the42.ie, or tweet @gcooney93.
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