Monty by Mark Keohane
Monty: The Definitive Biography of South Africa’s Centurions Icon
The Unfiltered, Record-Breaking Truth Behind the Triumphs, Scandals, and Sacrifice of Percy Montgomery
The Unfiltered, Record-Breaking Truth Behind the Triumphs, Scandals, and Sacrifice of Percy Montgomery
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Monty
- Author: Mark Keohane (with Percy Montgomery)
- Publisher: Highbury Safika Media, Cape Town
- Publication Date: 2008
- ISBN-10: 0620421034
- ISBN-13: 9780620421034
- Edition Details: First Edition, First Printing. Standard Trade Softcover Release.
- Binding: Original publisher's premium illustrated heavy-gauge card wrappers with a high-gloss protective finish (paperback).
- Physical Format: Octavo (8vo), 256 pages. Thickly enhanced with iconic full-colour match action plates, intimate family snapshots, and comprehensive annexures tracking his historic 94 Springbok records.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
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The Book: Used - Very Good (VG)
- Exterior / Wraps: The original softcover illustrated wrappers are in beautiful condition, presenting flat, clean face panels with crisp color contrast. Shows only minimal, microscopic signs of edge wear from standard retail sheltering. The spine remains entirely pristine, perfectly straight, uncreased, and unbroken, proving the book has been highly looked after thus far.
- Interior: The text block is robustly bound, tight, and highly crisp. Internal leaves are clean, bright, and completely intact. The entire text remains entirely free of user highlighting, underline annotations, library processing stamps, owner name inscriptions, or dealer pencil markings.
- The Dust Jacket: Not Applicable (As Issued)
Synopsis & Historical Value
Published in 2008 immediately following his retirement from the international arena, Monty is the explosive, definitive biography of a true titan of world rugby: Percy Montgomery. In August 2008, the blonde-haired fullback made monumental sports history by becoming the very first Springbok to play 100 Test matches. Hanging up his boots just two games later as the holder of an astonishing 94 national records, Montgomery strips away years of media spin to deliver a raw, shocking account of his high-stakes journey.
Written alongside veteran sports journalist Mark Keohane, Montgomery holds absolutely nothing back as he exposes the dark underbelly of rugby politics and fan hostility. He reveals the profound hurt of being booed by Springbok crowds at Loftus and witnessing fans deface his image on the team bus. He unpacks the real boardroom stories of the era—from his defiance of coach Rudolf Straeuli in 2002 and his infamous six-month suspension in Wales, to explosive revelations about Victor Matfield wanting Jake White fired in 2006. From playing through the 2007 World Cup Final with torn knee ligaments to his lack of respect for Bok legend Naas Botha, this premium first-edition used collectible book stands as an indispensable primary historical archive and a highly prized collectible copy.
Author Profile: Mark Keohane & Percy Montgomery
Percy Montgomery is an international rugby union legend, a World Cup winner, and the foundational centurion of South African rugby. Renowned for his lethal left-boot place-kicking, counter-attacking brilliance from the fullback position, and rock-star persona, he represented Western Province, the Stormers, Newport Gwent Dragons, Perpignan, and the Springboks over an illustrious career spanning 1997 to 2008. His record-shattering point tallies cemented his place as a global sporting phenomenon.
Mark Keohane is an exceptionally distinguished South African sports journalist, rugby columnist, author, and media entrepreneur. A former communications manager for the Springboks and the founding editor of major sports titles like SA Rugby Magazine, Keohane is widely praised for his fearless investigative reporting, deep insider access to elite changerooms, and sharp narrative pacing. His long-standing relationship with Montgomery ensures that this sports biography delivers an authentic, authoritative primary historical record.
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