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Young Woman And The Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered The English Channel And Inspired The World (2009)

by Glenn Stout(Favorite Author)

4.17 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0618858687 (ISBN13: 9780618858682)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

review 1: Rather enjoyed this one, though I am definitely not a swimmer. Stout does an excellent job of keeping the relevant background details (history of swimming, geological aspects of the English Channel, various asides) brief, providing just enough information. The focus on Trudy and the people in her swimming life is at the heart of the book, and where a reader's interest lies.Even with an understanding of the culture of the early 20th Century, I was amazed (and sometimes amused) by the rather rigid, sexist views of the time. This is an excellent tale of a young woman who just wanted to swim, and was able to capitalize on the changes occurring in society that would have doomed her ambitions even 10 years earlier. A great read - although it is sad that her name and accomplishme... morents are not better known.
review 2: I thought this book would be a casual "pick-up" read but instead found it a very interesting and informative piece of writing. It reflects the mores of the time in the 1920s when women were not allowed to learn to swim because modest young women were felt to be too weak and unfit for such a masculine occupation. After a boat accident resulting in a number of deaths (of mostly women and girls), public attitude began to change and women began to venture into more sports. Learning to swim became an accepted occupation for them. Trudy Ederle, a shy young girl with a serious hearing problem began to make her name known by swimming, first for her own pleasure, then in entering in small competitions. Her desire in life was to swim the English Channel. Whereever she went she set new records or broke old ones, paving the way for women being accepted in the men's world of sports. She spent hundred of hours in the water preparing for her Channel swim, always pushing herself to the limit. After a failed first attempt, (and some bad management from her coach) she was able to conquer the Channel amid world-wide acclamation for her ability. She established new guide lines for what women could wear,(she actually invented the first bikini) and for a space of time became acclaimed by the world. The evolution of Women's right are very evident in this book. The "you've come a long way baby" idiom has a whole new meaning after reading this book. less

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