Synopsis
Here's the paradox: your body becomes steadily more troublesome just at that point when the world, which you are soon to leave, becomes sweeter, more poignant, more beautiful, more desirable…
The ponds of Hampstead Heath are small oases; fragments of wild nature nestled in the heart of north-west London. For the best part of his life Al Alvarez – poet, critic, novelist, rock-climber and poker player – has swum in them almost daily.
An athlete in his youth, Alvarez, now in his eighties, chronicles what it is to grow old with humour and fierce honesty – from his relentlessly nagging ankle which makes daily life a struggle, to infuriating bureaucratic battles with the council to keep his disabled person's Blue Badge, the devastating effects of a stroke, and the salvation he finds in the three Ss – Swimming, Sex and Sleep.
As Alvarez swims in the ponds he considers how it feels when you begin to miss that person you used to be – to miss yourself. Swimming is his own private form of protest against the onslaught of time; proof to others, and himself, that he's not yet beaten.
By turns funny, poetic and indignant, Pondlife is a meditation on love, the importance of life's small pleasures and, above all, a lesson in not going gently in to that good night.
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About the Author
Al Alvarez is a poet, novelist, literary critic, anthologist, and author of many highly praised non-fiction books on topics ranging from suicide, divorce and dreams – The Savage God, Life After Marriage, Night – to poker and mountaineering – The Biggest Game in Town and Feeding The Rat. His most recent books are Where Did It All Go Right?, The Writer's Voice and Risky Business. He lives in Hampstead, London.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
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Pondlife: A Swimmer's Journal
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Pondlife : A Swimmer's Journal
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ISBN 10: 1408841002
ISBN 13: 9781408841006
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Pondlife : A Swimmer's Journal
Published by
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2013
ISBN 10: 1408841002
ISBN 13: 9781408841006
Used
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Seller: Better World Books: West, Reno, NV, U.S.A.
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Pondlife : A Swimmer's Journal
Seller: Good Reading Secondhand Books, Benalla, VIC, Australia
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Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. XI 272. The pages are lightly tanned, else clean, unmarked and solid. "The ponds of Hampstead Heath are small oases; fragments of wild nature nestled in the heart of north-west London. For the best part of his life Al Alvarez - poet, critic, novelist, rock climber and poker player - has swum there almost daily. Alvarez, now in his 80s, chronicles what it is to grow old with humour and honesty - from his relentlessly nagging ankle which makes daily life a struggle, to infuriating bureaucratic battles with the council to keep his disabled person's Blue Badge, the devastating effects of a stroke, and the salvation he finds in the three S's - swimming, sex and sleep." (Publisher) Can't recommend this book highly enough. A gem . Seller Inventory # 021763
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Pondlife: A Swimmer's Journal
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Condition: good. The book is in good condition with all pages and cover intact, including the dust jacket if originally issued. The spine may show light wear. Pages may contain some notes or highlighting, and there might be a "From the library of" label. Boxed set packaging, shrink wrap, or included media like CDs may be missing. Seller Inventory # BSM.JIPS
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Pondlife - A Swimmer's Journal
Published by
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, London, 2013
ISBN 10: 1408841002
ISBN 13: 9781408841006
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Seller: The Print Room, Cockernhoe nr Luton, United Kingdom
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Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. Jacket by Alamy (illustrator). 1st Edition. First edition, first impression with full number line. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, IN BLSCK PEN, ON TITLE PAGE 'For Pricia (? illegible) and Nick, Love Al'. Some very slight edge wear to top and bottom of largely white jacket and spine, corners very slightly rubbed, some slight yellowing to page block, not price clipped (£14.99), no other inscriptions, internally clean tight and almost square, overall a vg+ copy. 274pp, illustrated endpapers. The ponds of Hampstead Heath are small oases; fragments of wild nature nestled in the heart of north west London. For the best part of his life Al Alvarez (1929-2019), poet, critic, novelist, rock-climber and poker player has swum in them almost daily. An athlete in his youth, Alvarez chronicles what it is to grow old with humour and fierce honesty, from his relentlessly nagging ankle which makes daily life a struggle, to infuriating bureaucratic battles with the council to keep his disabled person's Blue Badge, the devastating effects of a stroke, and the salvation he finds in the three Ss, Swimming, Sex and Sleep. As Alvarez swims in the ponds he considers how it feels when you begin to miss that person you used to be, to miss yourself. Swimming is his own private form of protest against the onslaught of time; proof to others, and himself, that he's not yet beaten. By turns funny, poetic and indignant 'Pondlife 'is a meditation on love, the importance of life's small pleasures and above all, a lesson in not going gently in to that good night. Scarce signed. Signed by Author(s). Seller Inventory # 011010
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Pondlife : A Swimmer's Journal
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Bloomsbury Publishing plc, London, 2013
ISBN 10: 1408841002
ISBN 13: 9781408841006
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