Cassius X

'Cassius X is a delightful ride in a cherry-red Cadillac, with soul music on the radio and a steady hand at the wheel. A thoroughly enjoyable journey'

-- Jonathan Eig, author of Ali: A Life

'Crisply written, fast-paced, and original, this book surges with the kind of effervescence we have long associated with a young Cassius Clay ... Filled with colourful details, with a learned eye toward the music of the era, Cassius X hits all the right notes' 

-- Michael Ezra, author of Muhammad Ali: The Making of an Icon

'An exciting trip through the urban worlds of boxing, soul music, and crime, as Cassius Clay joins the Nation of Islam, becomes Muhammad Ali, and ascends the ranks of boxing to become World Heavyweight Champion during the early 1960s'

-- Lewis Erenberg, author of The Rumble in the Jungle

'There are many books about Muhammad Ali, but none like Stuart Cosgrove's Cassius X ... The book is a deeply personal look at one of 'The Greatest' public figures of the last one hundred years and is a model of how biographies of African Americans should be written'

-- Ray Winbush, author of Belinda’s Petition: A Concise History of Reparations for the Transatlantic Slave Trade

'Fascinating ... a different take on its subject, like a wayward B-side of a highly familiar tune'

* Scotsman *

'A vivid, knowing close-up of a crucial year in the life of boxing’s most iconic figure'

* Kirkus *

'Stuart Cosgrove's deep research and very human storytelling highlights how black music lit up the Sixties against a backdrop of political turmoil - and how Cassius Clay began his remarkable transformation into Muhammad Ali winning the world heavyweight title from scratch three times in the process'

* Harrogate Advertiser *

'You can almost smell the liniment and sweat and hear the classic songs of Tamla Motown when you start reading Mr Cosgrove’s work Cassius X... a compelling reminder of why he [Muhammad Ali] made such an impression'

* Dundee Courier *

'An engrossing and revelatory read.. and a great playlist. You do not have to be a fan of boxing or soul music to love this book'

-- Val McDermid at Edinburgh International Book Festival

'A benediction of a book about the early years of the sporting deity. Cassius X is a unique take – no easy feat when faced with an athlete who has been embalmed in books over the decades'

* Sunday Times *

'Equivalent to a biopic which portrays the fast-moving 1960s social, political and cultural scene and gives a fascinating insight into a lesser-known part of the legendary champion's life'

* Dundee Courier *

'A riveting profile of one of the world’s greatest sportsmen and the world he moved in'

* Herald *

'No ordinary tale of the life of The Greatest. Tells the story of the many social forces that shaped the life of the former world champion'

* Press & Journal *

'A terrifically fresh insight into sport’s greatest superstar'

* The Scotsman, Best Sports Books of 2020 *

'Another belter from The Soul Trilogy author... shines a light on how black music lit up politically turbulent 1960s America'

* Sunday Po