Swell
Subtitle: a waterbiography
By: Jenny Landreth
Publisher: Bloomsbury Sport
Published: 2017
Language: eng
Number of pages: 330
ISBN-13: 9781472938947
Copyright date: 2017
Subjects: History; Swimming for women; Biography; Women swimmers
Other titles: Swell :
Description: These days, swimming may seem like the most egalitarian of pastimes, open to anyone with a swimsuit - but this wasn't always the case. In the 19th century, swimming was exclusively the domain of men, and access to pools was a luxury limited by class. Women were (barely) allowed to swim in the sea, as long as no men were around, but even into the 20th century they could be arrested and fined if they dared dive into a lake. It wasn't until the 1930s that women were finally, and reluctantly, granted equal access. This is the story of the women who made that possible, a thank-you to the fearless 'swimming suffragettes' who took on the status quo, fought for equal access, and won. Interspersed with the text are the author's own recollections of becoming a "keen swimmer".
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 319-321) and index.
Table of contents: title: My waterbiography (part I); title: The great outdoors; title: Going indoors; title: Exceptional women (part I); title: The clubbable woman; title: My waterbiography (part II); title: Women of the world; title: In praise of lidos; title: We are what we wear; title: Olympic flames; title: My waterbiography (part III); title: The channel; title: My waterbiography (part IV); title: Exceptional women (part II); title: Why do women swim?; title: My waterbiography (part V).