A review by schopflin
The Swimmer: The Wild Life of Roger Deakin by Patrick Barkham

medium-paced

4.5

I really enjoyed this. I wasn't sure the approach - Deakin's own writings interleaved with others' memories - would work but it created a fascinating picture. He was clearly hugely charismatic, with a winning personality and a wonderful communicator, but selfish, mercurial, entitled and immature, features common in men of his generation. An absolutely fascinating read and a great way to explore human complexity.