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Lädt ... Swell: A Waterbiography (2017)von Jenny Landreth
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Melde dich bei LibraryThing an um herauszufinden, ob du dieses Buch mögen würdest. Keine aktuelle Diskussion zu diesem Buch. "....the view from under the water is magic. Perception changes; I began to swim in the lido ’s blue, not on it, and it felt like being put right inside a photo. Ahead of you are tiny legs hanging like tights on a washing line, kicking in a wind. The batik patterns of light on the floor break and blur as you pull through them. Other people ’s shadows are the hull of a boat, the body of a sea mammal. Stopping for a moment and dipping half down so your eyeline is flat along the surface of the water, you get the perspective shot they use in films like Piranha, which is perhaps not the best example to invoke. But it ’s an evocative shot, flicking your eyes down to the blue silence that lies beneath you and then up and along the surface. The water does things that feel counterintuitive. The surface bows, the colour is more concentrated at the top, a planetary horizon." Landreth mixes the personal - her own swimming biography, as a woman who came to swimming after her children were born, evangelism for women's right to swim without body shaming or other limitations, and histories of women's campaigns to get equal access to the water. I knew a little of her material (the bathing boxes seem to be something of a historical cliche) but had no idea seaside towns tried to segregate swimmers, or the links between the suffrage (voting) movement and swimming. Despite the sometimes serious themes - sexism, campaigning and motherhood, humour throughout, so not a dry read at all. I really enjoyed this book. Recommended if you like swimming, Jacky Fleming, or memoirs exploring feminism and/or women's history This was a Netgalley preview copy- out 4 May Zeige 2 von 2 keine Rezensionen | Rezension hinzufügen
Auszeichnungen
SHORLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 These days, swimming may seem like an egalitarian pastime, open to anyone with a swimsuit but this wasn 't always the case. In the 19th century, swimming was almost exclusively the domain of men. Women were (barely) allowed to swim in the sea, but even into the 20th century they could be arrested if they dared dive into a lake. It wasn 't until the 1930s that women were reluctantly granted equal access. This is the story of the swimming suffragettes who made that possible; women who took on the status quo, and won. Part social history, part memoir, Swell shines a light on these swimming suffragettes '. It celebrates some amazing achievements, some ridiculous outfits and some fantastic swimmers who challenge the stereotypes of what women are capable of. It 's also the story of how Jenny eventually came to be a keen swimmer herself. Swell is a joyful hymn to the sport and an exploration of why swimming attracts so many women. It is a book dedicated to our brilliant swimming foremothers who collectively made it possible for any woman to plunge in however and wherever we choose. Keine Bibliotheksbeschreibungen gefunden. |
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Google Books — Lädt ... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)797.21The arts Recreational and performing arts Water & Aerial Sports SwimmingKlassifikation der Library of Congress [LCC] (USA)BewertungDurchschnitt:
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In this Waterbiography, Landreth explores the ways that women have pushed to be allowed to swim in the same places as men and how access was reluctantly given. She highlights those women who have taken them on at their own records across the channel and other endurance events, fought against overt discrimination just for the right to swim. In amongst these social battles are some amazing women who would not take no for an answer, some pretty dire swimming costumes and Landreth’s own personal journey swimming in lidos.
It is a really enjoyable book, and well worth reading. Landreth has a seriously dry sense of humour as well as has some fairly forthright feminist views. However, given some of the petty reasons that women were denied that right to swim, you can see why. ( )