Critic Reviews
Great
Based on 5 reviews on
A masterpiece of nature writing, Roger Deakin's Waterlog is a fascinating and inspiring journey into the aquatic world that surrounds us.
In an attempt to discover his island nation from a new perspective, Roger Deakin embarks from his home in Suffolk to swim Britain--the seas, rivers, lakes, ponds, pools, streams, lochs, moats, and quarries. Through the watery capillary network that braids itself throughout the country, Deakin immerses himself in the natural habitats of fish, amphibians, mammals, and birds. And as he navigates towns, private property, and sometimes dangerous waters and inclement weather, Deakin finds himself in precarious situations: he's detained by bailiffs in Winchester, intercepted by the coast guard at the mouth of a river, and mistaken for a dead body on a beach. The result of this surprising journey is a deep dive into modern Britain, especially its wild places.
With enchanting descriptions of natural landscapes, and a deep well of humanity, boundless humor, and unbridled joy, Deakin beckons us to wilder waters and inspires us to connect to the larger world in a most unexpected way. Thrilling, vivid, and lyrical, Waterlog is a fully immersive adventure--a remarkable personal quest, a bold assertion of the swimmer's right to roam, and an unforgettable celebration of the magic of water.
Roger Deakin was an English writer and celebrated environmentalist. Waterlog, the only book he published in his lifetime, became a UK bestseller, and founded the wild swimming movement. He also authored two other acclaimed works of nonfiction: Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees and Notes From Walnut Tree Farm. Deakin lived in Suffolk, England, and died there in 2006.
"This is the book that inspired the wild-swimming craze, though do not let that put you off. It is odder and more eccentric than its dreary wet-suit-wearing evangelists may make you thinkā¦One to dip into, preferably when lying by a river."
āļøSeason's Readings for Nature Lovers!āļø āļø Waterlog by Roger Deakin, intro by @bonnietsui & afterword by @robgmacfarlane āļø Six Walks by @ben__shattuck āļø Windswept by @annabelabbs https://t.co/am67HuQ84o https://t.co/aEHI9iSEX6
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āAnything that contains water is fair game once Deakin has decided to swim in it, and the pleasure he gets from his swims is infectious: āIn water, all possibilities seemed infinitely extended . . .āā | Sarah Anderson on Roger Deakin, Waterlog, SF Issue 6 https://t.co/55FH5oGw4Y https://t.co/4yuPiuDUCB