LEARNING TO SWIM AND OTHER STORIES (First edition, first impression)

Graham Swift

ISBN 10: 0904388468 / ISBN 13: 9780904388466

Published by London Magazine Editions, London, 1982

About this Item

First impression of this true first edition of Graham Swift's third published book, after his first two novels "The Sweet-Shop Owner" and "Shuttlecock". Scarce - only 750 copies printed. ***Near fine in bright green cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The boards are clean and unmarked. No bumps or creases - just very slight creasing to the corner tips. Page block edges clean. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally also near fine with no inscriptions. Pages clean and bright. No creases or tears. ***In a near fine colour illustrated dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of £7.95. The dustwrapper is complete with no discernible faults, except for slight fading to the green colour on the spine and back panel near the spine. No other creases, chips or tears. Dustwrapper bright. ***220mm x 144mm. 146 pages. ***'Graham Colin Swift FRSL (born 4 May 1949) is an English writer. Born in London, England, he was educated at Dulwich College, London, Queens' College, Cambridge, and later the University of York. Some of Swift's books have been filmed, including "Waterland" (1992), "Shuttlecock" (1993), "Last Orders" (1996) and "Mothering Sunday" (2021). His novel "Last Orders" was joint-winner of the 1996 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction and a controversial winner of the 1996 Booker Prize, owing to the many similarities in plot and structure to William Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying". ***'"Learning to Swim and Other Stories" is the first collection of stories by English author Graham Swift published in 1982. All eleven stories were first published in British magazines. The collection was well received in England but was not as favourable in America. In Contemporary Authors (V.122) "more than one critic remarked that some of the tales seemed too studied and even uncompelling." Many of his works, especially short stories, leave the reader with many unanswered questions. Most questions are easily answered by considering Swift's work as a whole. "Learning to Swim" is not a collection of happy, light tales. One critic writes, "A list of themes reads like a microcosm of the Sunday morning newspapers: infidelity to partner (three), sexual traumas (two), incest (one), age (three), suspected bestiality (one), murder and mayhem (one)." (Wiki) ***A nice collectable copy of the scarce first edition of Graham Swift's third published book. We also have a near fine copy of the second edition of this work, published by Picador in 1993, listed on ABE. All the London Magazine Edition publications had relatively small print runs and are very hard to find today. A beautiful copy. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.

Seller Inventory # 7205

Bibliographic Details

• Title: LEARNING TO SWIM AND OTHER STORIES (First edition, first impression)
• Publisher: London Magazine Editions, London
• Publication Date: 1982
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0904388468
• ISBN 13: 9780904388466
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • First Editions
  • Literature

About this title

Synopsis

‘An admirable collection. Each story has its subtle nuances of narrative and language which established a quite distinct character. A most impressive work of fiction’ The Times

Graham Swift’s taut prose style, natural gift for characterization and tight grasp of the details and complexities of real life combine beautifully in these concentrated and enigmatic stories to offer an incisive exposé of the illusion, subterfuge and enigma of everyday interaction.

Focusing on the combative relationships between men and women – between a mismatched couple; an ageing doctor and his hypochondriacal patient; a teenage refugee swept up in the conflict of an oppressively sentimental father and his rebellious son – these spare, Kafkaesque stories are a microcosm for all human cruelty and need.

‘Graham Swift . . . has a wide range; he can be delicately sensitive or outrageously funny. He is a born storyteller’ Daily Telegraph

‘He has style and he has range, and quiet strengths that are continuously and effortlessly displayed. Graham Swift should be read by everyone with an interest in the art of the short story’ Evening Standard

Book Description

Cambridge Literature is a series of literary texts edited for study by students aged 14–18 in English-speaking classrooms. It will include novels, poetry, short stories, essays, travel-writing and other non-fiction. The series will be extensive and open-ended and will provide school students with a range of edited texts taken from a wide geographical spread.