The Living Myth of Roger Federer

Many publications and articles have been published about the "best tennis player of all time", mostly by sports journalists, but Milan Hanus' view is unique in this context in style and concept. In addition to the sporting aspect, it also introduces the reader to the psychological background of the game of tennis and the extraordinary way in which Roger Federer was able to develop his talent phenomenally.

In the first part of the book, entitled The Myth of the Journey, the author depicts the powerful sporting story of Roger Federer as a special variation of the heroic myth that is still very much alive and appealing in the collective soul. Milan Hanuš uses his knowledge of archetypal psychology and illuminates the journey of the Swiss sports hero and tennis genius with impressive images, parallels and cultural contexts, which he presents to the reader in a very engaging and understandable way. This is evidenced by the titles of the individual chapters: Daimon, Demons, A prankster and a rebel, Initiation, Game of Thrones, Djoker complex, Knights of the Round Table, etc. The treatment of a unique sports personality against the background of a heroic myth gives the author the opportunity for a very inventive and novel interpretation and style of expression.

The second part of the book is entitled The Myth of the Game and is dedicated to the key matches and "great epic battles" that Roger Federer fought with his equally famous opponents Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and others. In an original way, the author describes the course of unforgettable tennis dramas and looks beneath the surface, into the psychology of the players and the game itself. Also in these chapters, titled e.g. Persona, The Invisible Director, Victory Suffered, and Homer's Lament, he employs a figurative and highly imaginative mode of interpretation.

The book is published on the occasion of Roger Federer's 40th birthday and is dedicated to the world-famous tennis player with gratitude for the unforgettable sporting experiences he provided for fans in his matches. It should be stressed that this book goes beyond purely sporting topics - it is intended for all readers interested in the "hero's journey" and the modern version of the heroic myth, here performed by a Swiss tennis legend.

Milan Hanuš (1955) is a publicist and essayist. For a number of years he was the editor-in-chief of the cultural and social magazine PROSTOR, which published, among other things, psychologically and philosophically oriented reflections and essays by prominent Czech and foreign authors. He is interested in astropsychology and interpretation of symbols, and contributes to the archetype review Archea. He is an enthusiastic fan of the white sport and also an avid recreational player.