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Take Me to the River

A selection of joyful, immersive and life-affirming writing about wild swimming
Brief Description
An anthology not just of wild swimming writing, but also of stories of how a jump into deep waters can change us. From gentle dips in calm waters to fights for survival in stormy seas and moments of revelation amidst the waves. Gasp at the cold... Read More
Format: Hardback
$4999
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

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Immerse yourself in an ocean of great literature. Come on, dive in.

A selection of joyful, immersive and life-affirming writing about wild swimming.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An anthology not just of wild swimming writing, but also of stories of how a jump into deep waters can change us. From gentle dips in calm waters to fights for survival in stormy seas and moments of revelation amidst the waves.

Gasp at the cold with Amy Liptrot, marvel at the 19th century sea-cure craze with Jane Austen, be transfixed by Iris Murdoch's monster rising from the waves, slip into the river with Mark Twain.

Learn how to swim with the frogs with John Muir, fight the rapid tide with Lord Byron, let go of everything with Tove Jansson.

Open water swimming plays a pivotal role in many great stories, from Homer's Odyssey to contemporary poetry and memoir. There is adventure here and playfulness. Love and desire spark between characters at the edge of the water, as well as freedom from constraint.

It's a dip into the deep sea of words. Slide in.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781785306235

Publisher: Bonnier Books Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 11 September 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Black and White Publishing

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 34.0mm

Width: 164.0mm

Height: 243.0mm

Weight: 576g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Vicky Allan (Author)
Vicky Allan is an award-winning journalist and author. A staff writer for the Herald on Sunday, her work has also appeared in The Times, Daily Express, Vogue, GQ, The Guardian and Scotland on Sunday. She has won awards for her travel-writing, features writing and for her articles campaigning against violence against women. Her novel Stray is currently being adapted as a feature film.

Jackie Kemp (Author)
Jackie Kemp is a freelance writer, based in the Scottish Highlands where she lives with her husband Rob, a business consultant and keen photographer. Among other things, she writes political commentary on her Substack - 'Letter from Scotland' which is often illustrated with Rob's photos. Jackie lived in the US, in Boston's North End, for around three years until mid-2019. Before that, she and Rob brought up their three children in Leith, Edinburgh. During those years, she worked part-time as a freelance journalist, writing for the Scotsman, the Herald, the National, and the Guardian amongst other titles. She had a weekly column in the Herald for several years. In 2011, Jackie produced a selection of her father Arnold Kemp's journalism called 'Confusion to Our Enemies'.

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