A new wave of passion has emerged for open water swimming, but it is a British tradition that has deep roots. Susie Parr takes a chronological look at the social history of swimming from the earliest Roman written accounts, stories of Viking invaders, medieval and Elizabethan literature, medicinal seabathing in 18th century and the rise of Georgian and Regency watering holes such as Brighton. She follows the line of literary swimmers from Shelley to Murdoch and charts the boom of the British seaside resort in a fascinating and hugely enjoyable journey.