Love Match: Nelson Vs. Navratilova - Hardcover

Sandra Faulkner

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 155972157X ISBN 13: 9781559721578

Publisher: Birch Lane Pr, 1993

Synopsis

Covering the affair between tennis star Martina Navratilova and her married lover, Judy Nelson, a chronicle of love gone wrong discusses how the two met, fell in love, and separated bitterly, resulting in a much-publicized palimony suit. 40,000 first printing. $40,000 ad/promo.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

Former Texas beauty-queen Nelson tells--as written by sociologist Faulkner--of her eight-year affair with tennis great Martina Navratilova, as well as of the pair's litigious breakup and eventual out-of-court settlement. Nelson (a ``latter-day Doris Day,'' according to Rita Mae Brown's foreword), mother of two and married for 17 years, was introduced to the Czech superstar in 1982 by Nelson's 11-year-old son, Eddie. Nelson and Navratilova met again in 1984, and the mutual attraction proved so great that Nelson consulted a psychiatrist. Even so, the tennis star moved in with the Nelson family while recovering from an injury. The details of what happened next aren't made clear, but Nelson's husband, increasingly aware of the pair's relationship, asked Navratilova to leave--and Nelson went with her, as her lover, traveling companion, and ``maid'' (Nelson later told 20/20's Barbara Walters that Navratilova paid her $90,000 a year for her services). The couple finally exchanged rings and vows in an empty church in Brisbane, Australia, and they later videotaped a ``nonmarital cohabitation agreement'' that became the focal point of the litigation when they split up. Since homosexuality is illegal in Texas, and a court cannot enforce a contract to perform an illegal act, all parties were on unsure ground during the legal battle. Nelson charged not only breach of contract but claimed that she was entitled to the same rights as any spouse: half of all earnings garnered during the marriage. Navratilova countered that she thought she was agreeing only to a 50-50 split of any joint business venture. The couple's businesses and real estate were divided up, but Nelson offers absolutely no details of the final agreement other than to note that her desire to write this book was one of the sticking points. Numerous questions go begging in the emotion-laden, self- serving text--making this hardly the work by which to judge Navratilova, the pair's relationship, or, for that matter, Nelson herself. (Illustrations) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Library Journal:

This potentially juicy "kiss and tell" account fails miserably. The relationship and separation of tennis star and millionaire Martina Navratilova and former beauty queen and housewife Nelson is detailed after the fact by Nelson and her friend Faulkner, a sociologist. This could have been a revealing look at the financial legalities of palimony between two women in a state (Texas) that doesn't recognize nonmarital cohabitation, but it isn't. This also could have been an insightful portrayal of two complex women, one of whom is a world-famous athlete, but it isn't that, either. Even the most compelling question to readers--the dollar amount of the financial settlement--goes begging. Not recommended.
- J. Sara Paulk, Concord P.L., N.H.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Birch Lane Pr
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 155972157X
• ISBN 13: 9781559721578
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 215