The Irish Times

The other Grass Arena – where the history of mortality beckons

Some of us will never understand the madness of Cheltenham. Who honestly does? My dad still swears unholy allegiance with the place even though he’s never been and I know at least one person who bet ...
The Irish Times

Grass grows greener for John Healy

It's 20 years since the publication of ' The Grass Arena', the autobiography of John Healy, an alcoholic vagrant who found redemption in prison through chess. Now out in a new edition, it is being ...
The Quietus

Before And After The Grass Arena: John Healy Interviewed

In Martin Amis’ cleverly written memoir, Experience, one serious and salient issue looms large: outside of death – other people’s death – very little happens to Amis, one of England’s pre-eminent ...
Moviefone

The Grass Arena

The Grass Arena is based on the autobiography of John Healy. Raised in an strongly religious family, with an abusive father, John soon learns that he has to defend himself. Growing into adulthood he ...
The Guardian

Saved by the book

Some books have the power to change the way you think about life. In my case one such book was The Grass Arena, the autobiography of John Healy. First published by Faber in 1988 and now republished as ...