Learning to Swim: And Other Stories - Softcover

Swift, Graham

  • 3.72 out of 5 stars
    323 ratings by Goodreads
 
9780679739784: Learning to Swim: And Other Stories
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0679739785 ISBN 13: 9780679739784
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 1992

Synopsis

The men and women in these spare, Kafkaesque stories are engaged in struggles that are no less brutal because they are fought by proxy. In Graham Swift's taut prose, these quiet combative relationships--between a mismatched couple; an aging doctor and his hypochondriacal patient; a teenage refugee swept up in the conflict between an oppressively sentimental father and his rebellious son--become a microcosm for all human cruelty and need.

"Swift proves throughout this ambitious collection that he is a master of his language and the construction of provocative situations."--Houston Chronicle

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Graham Swift was born in 1949 and is the author of ten novels, three collections of short stories, and Making an Elephant, a book of essays, portraits, poetry, and reflections on his life in writing. With Waterland, he won the Guardian Fiction Award, and with Last Orders the Booker Prize. Both novels have since been made into films. His work has been translated into more than 30 languages.

From the Back Cover

The men and women in these spare, Kafkaesque stories are engaged in struggles that are no less brutal because they are fought by proxy. In Graham Swift's taut prose, these quiet combative relationships--between a mismatched couple; an aging doctor and his hypochondriacal patient; a teenage refugee swept up in the conflict between an oppressively sentimental father and his rebellious son--become a microcosm for all human cruelty and need.
"Swift proves throughout this ambitious collection that he is a master of his language and the construction of provocative situations."--"Houston Chronicle

From the Inside Flap

The men and women in these spare, Kafkaesque stories are engaged in struggles that are no less brutal because they are fought by proxy. In Graham Swift's taut prose, these quiet combative relationships--between a mismatched couple; an aging doctor and his hypochondriacal patient; a teenage refugee swept up in the conflict between an oppressively sentimental father and his rebellious son--become a microcosm for all human cruelty and need.

"Swift proves throughout this ambitious collection that he is a master of his language and the construction of provocative situations."--Houston Chronicle

Reviews

Swift's collection of tales about lovers at odds with each other exhibits strong characterizations but lacks the revelatory moments we expect from short fiction. Swift's new novel Ever After , forthcoming from Knopf in March, was reviewed in Fiction Forecasts (Jan. 20).
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Publication date
1992
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0679739785
ISBN 13 
9780679739784
Binding
Paperback
Number of pages
192
Rating
  • 3.72 out of 5 stars
    323 ratings by Goodreads

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780330518260: Learning to Swim and Other Stories

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  0330518267 ISBN 13:  9780330518260
Publisher: Picador, 2010
Softcover