Full title--Stu Hart; Lord of the Ring, An Inside Look at Wrestling's First Family by Marsha Erb ... ECW Press, 2002.

Looking over a shelf lined with wrestling books, I see four books where The Harts pay a prevelant role ... "Stu Hart: Lord of the Ring" is the latest.

Despite a few certain details, I really did enjoy this book.

The wrestling history involved is fresh and while not fancy, is nicely written. The stories are entertaining--tracing through every stage of life--and give the wrestling fan even more respect for Stu Hart. The photo inserts are good selections, depicting everyone from a young Stu to Owen Hart and The British Bulldog.

For the most part, "Lord of the Ring" is a fast read. There are a few slow sections but this is to be expected with any book. I did, however, find that the occasional "skip around" in the annuls of time somewhat confusing and even frustrating and often thought that certain sections could have been better off elsewhere in the book.

A rumor persists that this book, like Diana Hart's controversial, banned tell-all, "Under the Mat," will also succomb to pressures to be removed from bookshelves. After reading "Lord of the Ring," it seems inconceivable that this rumor could be true, being that all matters are handled extremely conservatively.

Personally, however, I would have enjoyed this much better if told from Stu's perspective (especially during the multiple re-telling of the infamous Montreal Screw-Job). The biography aspect seems to lose something in the world of wrestling autobiographies. Regardless of that fact, it is still an enjoyable, alternative perspective into the Hart Family; their triumphs and tragedies.