Where to start, I know you give a Geordie a book about two of the most famous Geordies and they're gonna read it and enjoy it.

Honestly i already knew more about Bobby, i mean who hasn't. The guy was a legend survivor of the Munich air disaster and was part of the Busby babes. He helped to change football in this country and as a massive football fan i feel honoured knowing he came from where i'm from.

Jack i didn't know as much about but i can now confidently say i do.

It was really good. I found it fascinating particularly on Jack's career as a manager after retiring as a player. The only part where I think it didn't work was getting under the skin of Bobby. To be fair to the author, he does mention Bobby is reserved so that could explain some of it. I thought there could have been more of Bobby's post playing career which there isn't really apart from a brief mention of his time in management. Was there challenges in football administration that Bobby tried to take on but didn't get? A really good book generally.

Two Brothers tells the story of two English footballing brothers Bobby and Jack Charlton.
The book starts with Jack's early life working at the coal mine and thereafter his life in football and Bobby being the more talented football player, but Jack made up for this with his passion for the game. The book also details the different managerial careers where Jack outshone his brother while Bobby became a prominent member of Man United's board.

I felt that this book was well-researched and I enjoyed reading it

A brilliant book. The story of Jack and Bobby Charlton from their childhood, through the football years both as players winning the world cup, managerial careers and their later lives. Both brothers suffering from Alzheimer's in later life.
Jack Charlton was the only Englishman Irish people loved he led the country to the World Cup twice! If you haven't read this book pick it up and watch the documentary "Finding Jack Charlton"

This is a well-researched, well-written account of the lives of Jack and Bobby Charlton, which is also a history of football's post-war development from the 1950s. As you would expect from someone with his experience, Wilson is very good on tactical developments (and the lack of them) and the decline, rise and decline of England as a football nation. His descriptions of key events such as the Munich air disaster and the 1966 World Cup Final are gripping and well-handled. His portrait of the differences between the two brothers is also a history of how the world changed during the post-war period and here Jack's unpredictability and gregariousness produces a more engaging narrative than Bobby's consistency and reserve. Some things don't work - the analogy between Alf Ramsey's tactical innovations and brutalist architecture doesn't quite come off for me, for example - and the reasons behind the brothers' loyalty to their respective teams is not discussed, but this is a fine overview of two fascinating, and at times tragic, lives.

“Two Brothers” by Jonathan Wilson is an excellent read that tells the story of the fairy tale lives of the Charlton brother, Bobby and Jack. Two completely different characters who both achieved excellence throughout their careers.

The book is well written and although I felt I already knew much of what I read it still made a fascinating and enjoyable read. It starts with Jacks early life working at the coal mine leading on to his life in football. Bobby was always the more skilled footballer but Jack more than made up for it with his sheer determination and passion.

The book also tells of the brother differing managerial careers, Bobby for once was completely outshone by his elder brother Jack. Bobby left management early after a tough beginning and became a prominent member of Manchester United’s boardroom. Overall I really enjoyed this read and felt that it was a fairly accurate account of these two famous brothers who reached the pinnacle in their football careers.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book charting the careers of probably the best two brothers ever to play for England, Bobby and Jack Charton.
It covers their careers and childhood and their managerial careers as well. It shows how different they were in character, one boisterous and loud, and one quit and introvert and how this played a part in their later lives.
For anyone interested in sporting biographies it is well worth a read

I found this extremely well researched and well written by Jonathan Wilson.

The only issue I felt was perhaps that Bobby Charlton isn't as interesting a subject as Jack (nor George Best or Don Revie, whose chapters were fascinating) - I found myself waiting for the sections on Jack whilst reading the ones on Bobby.

The big exception to that were the early chapters on the Busby Babes and then the Munich Air Disaster which were absorbing and poignant in equal measure.

Overall I really liked this one, thank you to the publisher for the ARC.