Product Description

The extraordinary story of the first man to swim the English Channel.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #846754 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
The tribe of Longitude continues to expand; myriad little books casting illuminating and entertaining light upon little-known crannies of cultural history. However, Kathy Watson's account of Captain Matthew Webb and his heroic 22-hour swim across the English channel in 1875 is a different kettle of fish--or of "half man half fish", as contemporaries called the astonishing Webb. Watson is a swimmer herself; she knows how punishing a long swim can be, how "every part of your body hurts, your legs, your groin, especially your shoulders. Some swimmers have finished [the channel crossing] using just one arm, the other too painful even to lift out of the water. If you're a man and you neglect to shave really closely, after the many thousand strokes you will make the stubble on your chin will lacerate the insides of your arms." It is this sort of striking detail that makes The Crossing so engaging a read. There is more to this deft book than a bare account of Webb's epic crossing, although its central chapters do tell that story with an economical vividness that has you panting for the end, almost as strongly as Webb himself (clogged by seaweed, stung by jellyfish, exhausted to the point of agony but still struggling on). Watson uses this central adventure as a peg on which to hang a history of the origins of swimming itself; a pastime that metamorphosed during the 19th century from a fringe activity to being what it is today--with some justice Watson observes that "if participation not observation is the measure, swimming not football or cricket is really this country's national sport." The whole thing is so expertly written, so engaging and witty as well as informative, that the reader crosses from page one to page 243 as rapidly as an Olympic-level sprint-swimmer. Adam Roberts

Customer Reviews

Been there, swum it, now read the book !!
Living near to Dover and being a swimmer it has always been a dream of mine, "to do The Channel". I know I'll never manage it myself but have participated in three Channel Relay swims (1993, 1997 - fastest men's relay of the year - and 1999 as part of a London to Paris relay). Reading this book and learning of the determination, hard work and guts of Cpt Webb made me feel very humble. Without any doubt those who have done a solo crossing are real superheroes and we need a book to chronicle them. This book has started the ball rolling, so to speak, may there soon be someone to take the challenge further.

Paul GROVES (Deal Tri)

The most surprisingly wonderful book I've read in years
Not having previously been remotely interested in Matthew Webb or swimming you can imagine how undelighted I was to be given this book for my birthday: well, Jane, you're a good present-buyer and obviously know things about me that I don't (thanks)! I really enjoyed this book and, as Mr Roberts says above, seemed to have read it in a nano-second before my husband stole it off me. Now we're off to the local baths for the first time in years (although Webb didn't have to contend with thousands of screaming kids ploughing up and down the lanes). So if you're not remotely interested in swimming, Victoriana or Matthew Webb I'd recommend you buy this book fast.But dig out that old thong first

Swimming the English Channel wasn't enough for Captain Webb
Kathy Watson gives a remarkable insight into the world of a driven Victorian man of action who championed the very practice of swimming at a time when it was hardly deemed a sport. She captures the idiosyncracies of the small swimming community against the power of the sea to dominate a man's life ultimately leading to his early and tragic death. Kathy Watson has brought Captain Webb back from his submerged role in history to take his place in the pantheon of curiously English sporting heroes. She also fills you with a desire to swim the Channel NOW! This is surely the perfect summer holiday beach read before taking the plunge yourself.