“AsnearlyperfectasanyAmericanfictionIknow,“ishowReynoldsPrice(TheNewYorkTimes)describedthisclassicthathasbeenafavoriteofreaders,bothhereandinEurope,foralmostfortyyears.SetinprovincialFranceinthe1960s,JamesSalter’sASportandaPastimeistheintenselycarnalstory--partshockingreality,partfeverishdream--ofaloveaffairbetweenafootlooseYaledropoutandayoungFrenchgirl.Thereistheseenandtheunseen--andpagesthatburnwitharareintensity.
