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Haunts of the Black Masseur
Haunts of the Black Masseur: The Swimmer as Hero | Charles Sprawson
2 posts | 1 read | 6 to read
In a masterful work of cultural history, Charles Sprawson, himself an obsessional swimmer and fluent diver, explores the meaning that different cultures have attached to water, and the search for the springs of classical antiquity. In nineteenth-century England bathing was thought to be an instrument of social and moral reform, while in Germany and America swimming came to signify escape. For the Japanese the swimmer became an expression of samurai pride and nationalism. Sprawson gives is fascinating glimpses of the great swimming heroes: Byron leaping dramatically into the surf at Shelleys beach funeral; Rupert Brooke swimming naked with Virginia Woolf, the dark water smelling of mint and mud; Hart Crane swallow-diving to his death in the Bay of Mexico; Edgar Allan Poes lone and mysterious river-swims; Leander, Webb, Weissmuller, and a host of others. Informed by the literature of Swinburne, Goethe, Scott Fitzgerald, and Yukio Mishima; the films of Riefenstahl and Vigo; the Hollywood swimming musicals of the 1930s; and delving in and out of Olympic history, Haunts of the Black Masseur is an enthralling assessment of manbody submerged, self-absorbed. It is quite simply the best celebration of swimming ever written, even as it explores aspects of culture in a heretofore unimagined way.
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cant_i'm_booked
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One of my all-time favorite books: a cultural celebration of swimming and the centuries of literature inspired by it. It‘s invigorated me enough to go plunge into the frigid San Francisco Bay every morning. Sprawson‘s only book, but it should count as five, it being packed with incredibly erudite dives into the author‘s lifelong fascination with water and “the swimmer” archetype. Background record: “Californication” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

BarbaraBB My all time favorite record ❤️ 2y
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DivineDiana
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My husband is a huge swimming fan! It is in his blood. Champion swimmers for generations. So, I bought this for him years ago, and there it sits on the shelf, unread. So, when I saw this challenge, I decided to breathe some new life into it! And this book is making its first appearance on Litsy! #swimming #readingresolutions

wanderinglynn That‘s a fantastic photo on the cover. 6y
DivineDiana Yes! Cover photograph by Sal Skog. 6y
Nute I have done the exact same thing and had the exact same high hopes...bought a book for someone because this book connected to a very specific special thing for that person. I have overflowed with excitement and anticipation as I waited for the ‘great read‘ to take place. And then one day concluded ‘it ain‘t ever gonna happen.‘ Cheers to you for giving that book...hmm, YOUR book a second chance.😆 (edited) 6y
DivineDiana @Nute So nice of you to write such a supportive comment! I looked through the book before I posted and thought, I should read this! ❤️ 6y
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