The Swimmer
The Wild Life of Roger Deakin
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Published:4th Apr '24
Should be back in stock very soon
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback - Signed First Edition£10.99(9780241471487-SF)
This creative biography explores Roger Deakin's unique life and his deep connection to nature, beautifully presented in The Swimmer.
In The Swimmer, readers are introduced to the multifaceted life of Roger Deakin, a man whose passions ranged from advertising to environmentalism. Deakin, known for his profound connection to nature, restored Walnut Tree Farm in Suffolk, becoming a beacon of natural writing that resonates with intimacy and poetic precision. His ability to weave stories about the natural world is unparalleled, and his legacy continues to inspire those who seek to understand the beauty of life through a more profound lens.
This creative biography, crafted by Patrick Barkham, is a tribute to Deakin's life and work, primarily told through his own words. Barkham meticulously sifts through Deakin's notebooks, letters, and recordings, allowing his voice to emerge vibrantly on the pages. The narrative is enriched by contributions from friends, family, and colleagues, creating a chorus that celebrates Deakin's unique perspective on the world around him.
The Swimmer is not just a biography; it is a compelling memoir that brings to life the joys and challenges faced by a man who lived deeply and authentically. The book captures the essence of Deakin's spirit, making it a rich and engaging read for anyone interested in the intersection of nature, creativity, and personal narrative.
As much a biography of a generation as of an individual . . . Barkham conjures the life of the wild swimming champion and author of Waterlog in a bravura act of creative memoir . . . a rich, strange and compelling work of creative memoir that beautifully honours and elevates the life and work of its subject -- Alex Preston * Observer *
[A] remarkable book, an extraordinary insight . . . The Swimmer is an unconventional biography of an unconventional person . . . A tapestry-like life of the influential nature writer -- Amy-Jane Beer * Guardian *
Barkham honours Deakin’s protean nature by collaging together often wildly contradictory testimonies from friends, colleagues and lovers. It manages, as few biographies do, to convey how impossible a person is to pin down, perhaps especially once as mercurial as Deakin * New Statesman, 'Books of the Year' *
Barkham's book succeeds in evoking a fascinating, creative, complicated man * Times Literary Supplement *
Reading Patrick Barkham's brilliant biography of this fascinating man, I felt both that I was meeting again the Roger Deakin I knew - and also encountering a Roger I never met . . . The narrative form Patrick has chosen allows Roger's own voice to sing through and with Patrick's - and also introduces us to a chorus of voices, memories and perspectives of those who knew Roger over the course of his wild and various life * Robert Macfarlane *
The Swimmer is biography at its most inventive, mixing Deakin’s own writings with friends’ memories and improvisational add-ons to celebrate a bold and surprising life -- Blake Morrison * Observer *
Vivid . . . a magical kind of post-mortem autobiography . . . The Swimmer is a wonderful testament to a unique and very charming man * Daily Mail *
Deakin has become the unofficial patron saint of wild swimmers . . . Barkham mines Deakin's notebooks and interviews his family, friends and lovers to create this beautifully immersive biography * Financial Times, 'What to Read this Summer' *
Deakin was an extraordinary man in an extraordinary moment * Times *
A long-awaited biography of the late, great writer, environmentalist and moat-dipper . . . This is a mightily accomplished biography . . . a skilful piece of theatre -- Sue Brooks * Caught by the River *
ISBN: 9780241471487
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 24mm
Weight: 288g
400 pages