Joint Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2018
The poignant,life-affirming story of a determined boy,a visionary coach,and how the dream of a record-breaking Channel swim became reality
Eltham,South London. 1984: the hot fug of the swimming pool and the slow splashing of a boy learning to swim but not yet wanting to take his foot off the bottom. Fast-forward four years. Photographers and family wait on the shingle beach as a boy in a bright orange hat and grease-smeared goggles swims the last few metres from France to England. He has been in the water for twelve agonizing hours,encouraged at each stroke by his coach,John Bullet,who has become a second father.
This is the story of a remarkable friendship between a coach and a boy,and a love letter to the intensity and freedom of childhood.
Publisher: Penguin Books LtdISBN: 9780141988757Number of pages: 192Weight: 160 gDimensions: 196 x 128 x 18 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'Written beautifully through the eyes of a child yet to enter his teens,'A Boy in the Water'resonated strongly taking me back to my own childhood. A fascinating story full of innocence,achievement,ambition and trust.'- Ellen MacArthur
'His immersive,colourful writing takes the reader through a challenge that even the most experienced adult long-distance swimmers would balk at. The story keeps you gripped from the start,all the way to an unexpected and heart breaking twist towards the end.'- The Daily Express
'Beautifully written...often heart-wrenching.'- Jane Shilling,The Daily Mail
'I am absolutely in awe; a mind-blowing and phenomenal feat. A Boy in the Water will change ideas of what is possible'- Chrissie Wellington
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