L' ombra del massaggiatore nero. Il nuotatore, questo eroe

A strange fluid hybrid of literature, mythology and sociology. Strange that some of the writers mentioned are among my favourites, yet I never noticed the water/swimming obsessions (and I self-identify as a swimmer). When this book lost me I always blamed myself. I started reading the last chapter fi Leggi tutto

A quirky little book about swimming over the centuries, mainly through the lens of literature. The author focuses on writers whose love of swimming and the water found its way into their stories and books. Some such as Byron were accomplished swimmers; Byron swam the Hellespont in 1810, a swim throu Leggi tutto

This book - through the lives of Shelley and others, through the smoky glass of the crystal aquarias of the late nineteenth century - captures the mystery, danger,and eroticism of the world below the water's hermetic skin. A poignant read about eccentrics who, dissatisfied with brief visits underwat Leggi tutto

Byron ist über den Hellespont geschwommen, Shelley ertrank, als seine Yacht von einem Sturm im Golf von Spezzia kenterte und auch Swinburne war ein begeisterter Schwimmer. Im 19. Jahrhundert erlebte das Schwimmen in Großbritannien nicht nur bei den Schriftstellern eine Wiedergeburt. Die Briten waren Leggi tutto

This ought to be recognized as a classic cultural history. It is concerned with, as Sprawson says himself, the swimmer as hero. It isn't a history of swimming (and forget it if you're after sports stars) but an account of the various ways swimming has meshed with culture, since the classical age but Leggi tutto

Long chapters with a lot of summary and mention of historical figures without historical context. Some fun facts though!

Stunning!