Haunts of the Black Masseur by Charles Sprawson
Offers an introduction to the great swimming heroes: Byron leaping into the surf at Shelley's beach funeral, Hart Crane, swallow-diving to his death in the Bay of Mexico, Ulysses, Leander, Weismuller and more.
[Sprawson] has an ornate style of prose, apparently smooth, but rippling with wit and candour… Haunts of the Black Masseur was a delight when I read it first time round and 25 years on, it strikes me as even better -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *
Original and sparkling… A haunting, sensual, slippery read that will make you long for seaweed on your skin and sand between your toesA must for swimmers -- Rebecca Wallersteiner * The Lady *
A wholly original idea...a brilliant translation of a singular passion -- Alan Ross * Times Literary Supplement *
A devoted and luminously romantic history of swimming * Guardian *
An exhilarating plunge into some of the deepest pools inside our heads... Magnificently obsessive, this social and cultural history of swimming is the best book I read this year -- J G Ballard
Original and sparkling… A haunting, sensual, slippery read that will make you long for seaweed on your skin and sand between your toesA must for swimmers -- Rebecca Wallersteiner * The Lady *
A wholly original idea...a brilliant translation of a singular passion -- Alan Ross * Times Literary Supplement *
A devoted and luminously romantic history of swimming * Guardian *
An exhilarating plunge into some of the deepest pools inside our heads... Magnificently obsessive, this social and cultural history of swimming is the best book I read this year -- J G Ballard
Charles Sprawson was an obsessional swimmer and diver who swam the Hellespont. He died in January 2020.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780099577249 |
| ISBN 10 | 0099577240 |
| Title | Haunts of the Black Masseur |
| Author | Charles Sprawson |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Vintage Publishing |
| Year published | 2013-02-07 |
| Number of pages | 336 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |