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Sports Gazette: Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson by Sally H. Jacobs
“Althea Gibson’s legacy is complex and largely forgotten.… In Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson, Sally H. Jacobs meticulously unravels the mystery so delicately attached to the woman that placed the tennis racket into the hands of the Williams sisters.
Jacobs presents a truly sensitive chronicle, within which she dissects the complicated life of a conflicted woman, apathetic of the society she was reluctantly destined to represent. ”
Sam France and Aayush Majumdar, “SG book reviews – Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson by Sally H. Jacobs,” Sports Gazette, December 4, 2023.
Post and Courier: ‘Althea’ an important reminder of a towering figure in athletics
“‘Althea’ is a very effective, and perhaps much needed reminder of what a towering figure Gibson was, and should remain. After all, as its author so eloquently puts it, it was Althea Gibson who, ultimately, put the racket in Serena’s hand.”
Rosemary Michaud, "‘Althea’ an important reminder of a towering figure in athletics," The Post and Courier, Nov 19, 2023.
WaPo: 50 notable works of nonfiction from 2023
“In 1957, Althea Gibson became the first Black tennis player to win the Wimbledon singles title. She also accomplished a remarkable number of other firsts. Jacobs’s lively book is one of two Gibson biographies published this year: Ashley Brown’s “Serving Herself,” a bit more academic in approach, is equally worthy. (Book World review.)”
Washington Post Editors and Reviewers, “50 notable works of nonfiction from 2023,” Washington Post, November 15, 2023.
WaPo: Althea Gibson’s legend deserves to be one of our biggest
“Two new biographies capture the athletic greatness and the funny, exuberant personality of the undersung pioneering tennis champion.
... “Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson,” by Sally H. Jacobs, encapsulates just how fearless and confident Gibson was, both on and off the court.... Jacobs, a journalist by trade, has the firsthand accounts of more than 100 people, including multiple (mainly White) octogenarian peers of Gibson. ... [B]oth [authors] expound upon the political lay of the land and the complicated relationship Gibson had with the Black community.”
Patrick Sauer, “Althea Gibson’s legend deserves to be one of our biggest,” Washington Post, August 23, 2023.
Philadelphia Inquirer: Don’t miss this biography
“Sports fans, don’t miss this biography. Black history scholars, you want it. Tennis lovers, there’s a lot of tennis here, so make a racquet for it. “Althea” is a grand slam.”
Terri Schlichenmeyer, “Book Review: "Althea" tells the almost-forgotten story of the first Black women in tennis,” Philadelphia Inquirer, Aug 22, 2023.