Learning to Swim

The men and women in these spare, Kafkaesque stories are engaged in struggles that are no less brutal because they are fought by proxy. In Graham Swift's taut prose, these quiet combative relationships--between a mismatched couple; an aging doctor and his hypochondriacal patient; a teenage refugee swept up in the conflict between an oppressively sentimental father and his rebellious son--become a microcosm for all human cruelty and need.

"Swift proves throughout this ambitious collection that he is a master of his language and the construction of provocative situations."--Houston Chronicle

Barbatii si femeile din aceste povesti kafkiene de rezerva sunt angajate in lupte care nu sunt mai putin brutale, deoarece sunt luptate prin imputernicire. In proza incordata a lui Graham Swift, aceste relatii combative linistite - intre un cuplu nepotrivit; un medic care imbatraneste si pacientul sau hipocondriac; un adolescent refugiat maturat in conflictul dintre un tata opresiv sentimental si fiul sau rebel - a devenit un microcosmos pentru toata cruzimea si nevoia umana. "Swift demonstreaza in aceasta colectie ambitioasa ca este un stapan al limbajului sau si al constructiei unor situatii provocatoare. . "- Houston Chronicle