The Manly Art: Bare-Knuckle Prize Fighting in America

Elliott J. Gorn's The Manly Art explores the origins of boxing and its significance in American culture, highlighting how social categories like gender, class, and ethnicity are intertwined in the sport's history. The updated edition includes a new afterword reflecting on changes in sport, gender, and popular culture studies over the past decades. The book examines the rise of boxing as a form of national celebrity and its impact on American society, from illegal competitions to iconic figures like John L. Sullivan.