Take Me to the River, 9781785306235
Hardcover
Dive into stories where a swim changes everything.
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Take Me to the River

a selection of joyful, immersive and life-affirming writing about wild swimming

$42.00

  • Hardcover

    304 pages

  • Release Date

    12 January 2026

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Summary

Take Me to the River: An Anthology of Wild Swimming Tales

An anthology exploring how a plunge into deep waters can transform us. From tranquil swims to desperate struggles in turbulent seas, and moments of profound discovery amidst the waves.

Gasp at the cold alongside Amy Liptrot, marvel at the 19th-century sea-cure craze with Jane Austen, be captivated by Iris Murdoch’s monster emerging from the depths, and immerse yourself in the river with Mark Twain.

Learn the a…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9781785306235
ISBN-10:1785306235
Author:Vicky Allan, Jackie Kemp
Publisher:Bonnier Books Ltd
Imprint:Black and White Publishing
Format:Hardcover
Number of Pages:304
Release Date:12 January 2026
Weight:574g
Dimensions:164mm x 241mm
What They're Saying

Critics Review

‘An exulting invitation to slip, dip, swim, splash and dive into the politics, aesthetics and sensuousness of swimming, this collection of literary texts compiled across a wide range of time and places makes you just want to grab a towel and make for the nearest pond or beach.’ – Dr. Sophie Berrebi, author of The Sharing Economy‘Swimming and writing share a similar rhythm, both require us to give in, to notice and to feel. Take Me to the River captures the pull of the water, the power of nature and the beauty of words. This book reminds you that great writing, like a good swim, leaves you changed somehow.’ – Ella Foote, author of How to Wild Swim‘Take Me to the River is a wild swim in water filled with stories. Both a delight and a literary immersion, this book is for experienced swimmers and paddlers alike. It is a treasure trove of watery tales and adventures into which readers can dip their toes whenever they like, wherever they are.’ – Annie Worsley, author of Windswept

About The Author

Vicky Allan

Vicky Allan (Author)

Vicky Allan is an award-winning journalist and author. A staff writer for the Herald on Sunday, her work has also appeared in The Times, Daily Express, Vogue, GQ, The Guardian and Scotland on Sunday. She has won awards for her travel-writing, features writing and for her articles campaigning against violence against women. Her novel Stray is currently being adapted as a feature film.

Jackie Kemp (Author)

Jackie Kemp is a freelance writer, based in the Scottish Highlands where she lives with her husband Rob, a business consultant and keen photographer. Jackie lived in the US, in Boston’s North End, for around three years until mid-2019. Before that, she and Rob brought up their three children in Leith, Edinburgh. During those years, she worked part-time as a freelance journalist, writing for the Scotsman, the Herald, the National, and the Guardian amongst other titles. She had a weekly column in the Herald for several years. In 2011, Jackie produced a selection of her father Arnold Kemp’s journalism called ‘Confusion to Our Enemies’.

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