Take Me to the River : A selection of joyful, immersive and life-affirming writing about wild swimming

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

<p>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>Learn how to swim with the frogs with John Muir, fight the rapid tide with Lord Byron, let go of everything with Tove Jansson.<br><br>Open water swimming plays a pivotal role in many great stories, from Homer's <i>Odyssey</i> 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.<br><br>It's a dip into the deep sea of words. Slide in.</p>