The Great Swim
In the aftermath of the Great War, when the world was still trying to bury its wounds, flappers, jazz music and sport all helped to take people’s minds off of the daily grind. But it was the story of four young American swimmers — Gertrude Ederle, Mille Gade, Lillian Cannon, and Clarabelle Barrett – that captivated the public on both sides of the Atlantic. The popular East Coast tabloids from New York to Boston engaged in rivalries nearly as competitive as the swimmers themselves; each backed a favourite which only fuelled the rivalry – wife and mother pitched against feminist and flirt in a desperate bid for glory.
In The Great Swim, Gavin Mortimer paints an unforgettable portrait of a battle that changed the way the world looked at women. This is a tale of perseverance and sheer force of will and of the frightening ease with which celebrity hysteria can precipitate tragedy.
"Mortimer's story of the grit of these women cracks along like a Channel tide...his descriptions of the caprice of the ribbon of water that defeated so many are compelling."
The Daily Telegraph
"Mortimer's book, narrated with pacy enthusiasm and highlighted by the achievements of four largely forgotten heroines, is a fascinating and irresistible slice of sporting history."
The Daily Mail
About the author
Gavin Mortimer was born in London and now lives in Montpellier in the south of France. He began writing full-time in 1996 and has contributed to a bro