Shifting Currents

“Carr has written a magnum opus. Shifting Currents is, as its title indicates, a world history of swimming, but it ends up as a world history through swimming as well. Carr’s encyclopedic knowledge and vast intellectual scope reach from literally the origins of life–but more specifically the beginning of modern hominid life in the evidence from early humans and Neanderthals–to the twenty-first century. The book’s temporal range is matched by its geographical breadth. No part of the earth is left untouched by Carr’s deft analysis; no country or culture has been ignored in what is clearly the result of years of careful and in-depth research.”– “Bryn Mawr Classical Review”“Carr’s Shifting Currents examines the history of swimming from ancient times to our modern day from a world-historical lens. Carr weaves together archeological, textual, and art-historical sources, as she examines the ongoing tension between swimmers and non-swimmers over the course of time… . Shifting Currents is an important and welcome addition to the historiography of swimming. Carr critically assesses the complexities of swimmers and non-swimmers since ancient times… . Students and scholars interested in the history of sports, swimming, social history, class, race, public health, and world history will all find something interesting in this insightful monograph.”– “History: Reviews of New Books”“Carr’s ambitious history of swimming seeks to challenge Renaissance ideas about the origins of swimming and move the focus beyond Europe… . Her light touch, fast pace and short chapters help ensure we glide across the surface and don’t get stuck in the murky weeds of academic debate. Shifting Currents will surprise and shock you as Carr explores how racism, enslavement, misogyny and class have shaped the history of swimming. There is an extraordinary amount of love and research here, along with an excellent reading list so you can continue to explore the themes and periods which speak to you most.”– “Outdoor Swimming Society”“Shifting Currents is a must-have for anyone interested in human beings’ long history of swimming. Guiding readers across human experience from the earliest times to the present, from Africa to Europe, Asia, the Americas, Australia, and Oceania (Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia), Carr provides swimming enthusiasts and scholars with a unique, rich, and engaging examination of swimming.”–Kevin Dawson, associate professor of history, University of California, Merced, author of “Undercurrents of Power: Aquatic Culture in the African Diaspora”“The latest book to dive into the subject of swimming history, as interpreted by historians and journalists, is Shifting Currents, an incredibly well-researched and richly illustrated book. The things that separate Carr’s book from the rest are her background as an expert in classical art and ancient archaeology and her use of art through the ages–from all inhabited continents–to help tell her story. And what a story!”– “Swimming World”

Karen Eva Carr is associate professor emerita in the Department of History at Portland State University. Her books include Vandals to Visigoths: Rural Settlement Patterns in Early Medieval Spain.