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Literature

We would like to record our thanks to ARMIN WUNDER for having taken much trouble to research and collate the following information.

Literature (advanced reading) for the interested swimmer.

For those of us who are not only interested in swimming to "the other side" but recognise that there is more to Channel Swimming (e.g. lots of living history, sports physiology, psychology and maybe even philosophy) please find below a list and abstracts of books on the topic of Channel Swimming. Most of them are out of print and some are also outdated in the sense that their contribution of information on the topic is only historical today.

If you need information on Channel Swimming that is essential and valid today make sure you obtain a copy of the CSA Information Pack for the current year or year ahead and the Channel Swimming Association Handbook 2006.

Both may be ordered from the Administrative Secretary of the CSA, see details under Information/Registration Pack.

The books that are rated "out of print" can usually be ordered from the web sites of:

www.abebooks.com
www.bookbrain.co.uk

The newer ones can either be ordered by any bookshop or an address to send the order and money to is given.

Books and abstracts:

Gregory, Tom: A Boy in the Water, 2018 - Publishing - Penguin Press

Babbit, Bob: The Complete IRONMAN, 2018 - Publishing - Carlton Books 2018, ISBN 9781780979885

Baumgartner, Bruno: Die unerklärliche Sucht nach Wasser, Spormedis 2014 (German Lang.)

Channel Swimming Association : Handbook, 2016, GB. Latest Edition.

Channel Swimming Association : Handbook, 2012, GB.

Channel Swimming Association : Handbook, 2006, GB.

Channel Swimming Association : Handbook, 1990, revised edition, GB. (out of print)

Channel Swimming Association : Handbook, 2002, 75th Anniversary Edition, GB.

Cleveland, Marcia: Swimming the English Channel, 1999, ISBN 0-9672091-0-2, 20 US $ To be obtained from the author: 915 Pine Tree Lane, Winnetka, IL 60093, USA E Mail: doversolo@aol.com

Dean, Penny Lee: Just try one more, Balboa Press 2013

Dean, Penny Lee, Ed.D: Open Water Swimming - A complete guide for distance swimmers and triathletes, 1998, Human Kinetics, USA, ISBN 0-88011-704-4

Elderwick, David : Captain Webb Channel Swimmer, 1987, K.A.F. Brewin Books, GB. ISBN 0-947721-23-7

Forsberg, Gerald: Modern Long Distance Swimming, 1963, Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd, London, GB

Friedman, Sally: Swimming the Channel, 1996, Vintage, Random House, GB ISBN 0749-38575-8

Gale, Al: Harry's Favourite Thing: My story behind the BBC4 documentary, 'Swim The Channel'

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1521567611

  • Kindle - ASIN B0735PQZ1H
  • Paperback – ASIN 1521567611

Hawley, Mariel: Water Days: Swimming the English Channel, 2013, (Kindle Edition)

Hetzel, Thomas J., Ph.D : Conquest of the English Channel, 1985, T Becket Publishing Company, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA. (Out of print)

Howe, Tina: Pride's Crossing, 1998, Theatre Communications Group, NY, USA

Humphreys, Mike: In Cold Water, Author House, 2013

Jagasich, Paul A : Two sides of the English Channel, 1989, Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia 23943, USA. To be obtained from the Publisher 15 US $ + S & H

Jarvis, Margaret A : Captain Webb and 100 years of Channel Swimming, 1975, ISBN --7153-6994-4, David & Charles Inc., North Pomfret Vermont, Vermont 05053, USA. (Out of print)

Landreth, Jenny: Swell: A Water biography Hardcover – Jul 3 2017

Mouncy, Andy: London To Paris The Hard Way, Filament Publishing 2005

Nyad, Diana: Other Shores, 1978, Random House, Inc. New York, USA (Out of Print)

Passini, Adriano ; Clarke, Karteek : The Challenge of the English Channel: A Spiritual Approach to the Mount Everest of Swimming, The Golden Shore, 2016

Pember, Doloranda: In the Wake of Mercedes Gleitze, distributor MDL, 2019 (orders@macmillan.co.uk)

Pumphrey, George H : Conquering the English Channel, 1965, Abelard-Schuhman Ltd. Publishers, London, New York, Toronton (Out of print)

Renford, Des; Heads, Ian : Nothing Great is Easy, 1992, Ironbark Press, NSW, Australia ISBN 1-875471-08-1 (Out of print)

Ridge, Julie; Zimmer, Judith : Take it to the limit, 1986, Collier Macmillan Canada, Inc.

Rockett, Sam: It's cold in the channel, 1956, Taylor Garnett Evans & Co., Ltd., GB (Out of Print)

Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team : English Channel Inspiration Book. 1990, not officially published, limited availability via the Sri Chinmoy Centre Zurich, Switzerland.

Starr, Rob: From Starr to Starrfish, Book Guild Publishing 2014

Walker, Adam: One Man's Journey to Swim The World's Toughest Oceans, John Blake 2017

Watson, Kathy : The Crossing: The curious story of the first man to swim the English Channel, 2000, Headline Book Publishing, GB. ISBN 0-7472-6213-6

Webb, Mathhew, Cptn : The Art of Swimming, 1876, 1999 by Pryor Publications, GB, ISBN 0-946014-78-7

Wennerberg, Conrad : Wind, Waves and Sunburn - a brief history of marathon swimming, 1974, 1997, Breakaway Books, NY, USA

Wood, Lucy: Blonde In Deep Water: Brenda Fisher: The Story of a Channel Swimmer, 2016 (Kindle Edition)

Want to Swim the Channel?

To get started you must first purchase an information and registration pack.

Buy online

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