The Swimmer: The Wild Life of Roger Deakin

The New Statesman and Observer have named Roger Deakin's biography, written by Patrick Barkham, the best book of 2023. It is a joyful work of creative biography that delves deep into Roger Deakin's library of words, conjuring his voice back to life in a dream conversation between a writer and those who knew him intimately.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 25 May 2023
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

About The Swimmer: The Wild Life of Roger Deakin\n

The Newstatesman and Observer have named Roger Deakin's biography as the Best Book of 2023. This comprehensive work of creative biography is presented primarily through the words of the beloved author himself, with the support of a chorus of friends, family, colleagues, lovers, and neighbors. Delving deep into Roger Deakin's extensive library of words, Patrick Barkham has skillfully woven together a tapestry of memories, anecdotes, and insights, bringing his voice back to life in these captivating pages. As one delves into the pages of this book, it feels like eavesdropping on a dream conversation between a writer and those who knew him intimately.

Roger Deakin was a man of remarkable versatility and depth. Born with a natural talent for writing, it took him decades to finally publish his first book, "Waterlog." However, his life was far from limited to literature. He was also a maverick ad-man, a furniture seller on the iconic Portobello Road, a cider maker, a teacher, an environmentalist, a music promoter, and a filmmaker. Above all, he was the restorer of ancient Walnut Tree Farm in Suffolk, a place that he cherished and shared with a diverse array of visitors, both human and animal. Deakin's writing, characterized by his rare attention, intimacy, precision, and poetic flair, captured the essence of natural life in all its beauty and complexity.

This joyful work of creative biography is a testament to Roger Deakin's unique character and the profound impact he had on those around him. Patrick Barkham, the author, has skillfully pieced together a narrative that draws from a wide range of sources, including notebooks, diaries, letters, recordings, published work, and early drafts. The result is a captivating portrayal of Deakin's life and work, offering a glimpse into his thoughts, experiences, and the world he inhabited.

One of the most striking aspects of this biography is the way in which it allows readers to feel a deep connection with Roger Deakin. Through his words, one can sense his passion for nature, his love for the outdoors, and his deep appreciation for the simple joys of life. Deakin's writing was infused with a sense of wonder and awe, and his ability to convey the beauty and wonder of the natural world was truly remarkable.

In addition to his literary achievements, Roger Deakin was also a beloved figure in his community. He was known for his generosity, his kindness, and his willingness to share his knowledge and expertise with others. He was a teacher, inspiring countless students with his passion for nature and his ability to make complex concepts accessible and engaging. He was also an environmentalist, working tirelessly to protect the natural world and promote sustainable practices.

Deakin's legacy continues to inspire and influence people today. His books, particularly "Waterlog" and "Wildwood," have become classics of nature writing, beloved by readers around the world. His dedication to preserving the natural world and his ability to convey its beauty and wonder through his writing have left a lasting impact on the literary and environmental communities.

In conclusion, Roger Deakin's biography is a remarkable work of creative biography that offers a deep and intimate glimpse into the life and work of a truly unique individual. Through his words and the stories of those who knew him, readers are able to experience the passion, wonder, and beauty of the natural world that Deakin so vividly captured in his writing. This book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the power of words to transport us to new places and inspire us to appreciate the world around us.

However, his narrative wasn't confined solely to the realm of literature. He seamlessly and at times concurrently inhabited roles as a trailblazing advertising maverick, a purveyor of stripped pine furnishings along the bustling thoroughfare of Portobello Road, an alchemist of cider, an illuminating educator, an unwavering champion of the environment, a catalyst for harmonious musical encounters, and a maestro of the cinematic art form.

Yet, the tapestry of his identity was most vividly woven by his role as the renaissance man behind the restoration of the ancestral Walnut Tree Farm in the verdant embrace of Suffolk. This sacred heartland was a sanctuary shared with an assemblage of visitors, encompassing both sentient creatures and kindred spirits, a communion he commemorated with an unparalleled blend of attentiveness, closeness, precision, and lyrical finesse, transcending into his portrayal of all facets of nature's tapestry.

Within the persona of Roger Deakin resided a uniqueness that defied categorization. This remarkable individuality extends to the pages of this biography, an effervescent exemplar of creative narrative. Orchestrated predominantly through the prism of Roger's own reflections, this opus is further enriched by the harmonious chorus of confidantes, kin, collaborators, paramours, and neighbors who once shared his orbit. Immerging himself in the tapestry of Roger Deakin's literary legacy, Patrick Barkham undertakes an ardent excavation of notebooks, diaries, epistles, phonographic remnants, published endeavors, and embryonic drafts.

From these fragments, Barkham skillfully resurrects Roger's voice in all its resplendent vibrancy, infusing life back into it within the confines of these pages. To engage with this book is tantamount to eavesdropping on a transcendental discourse, an ephemeral dialogue unfurling between a bard and those who knew his essence most intimately.

The biography unfurls like a living tribute, capturing not only the tangible landmarks that punctuated Roger Deakin's extraordinary sojourn but also the ineffable spaces between those milestones where his spirit truly resided. As readers embark on this literary expedition, they become the privileged auditors of a dreamlike colloquy, an exchange unburdened by the constraints of time and space. Here, Roger's words resonate, his essence revitalized by the careful curatorship of Barkham's meticulous work. The symphony of narratives, diverse yet harmonious, ushers us into the inner sanctum of a life lived fully and passionately.

In conclusion, Roger Deakin's life emerges as a testament to the kaleidoscopic nature of human potential, and his biography, a testament to the art of storytelling. With every page turned, the reader traverses not only the span of a singular existence but also embarks on a journey to apprehend the profound interconnectedness between the tapestry of a life lived and the literary celebration thereof. Through the alchemy of words, Roger's legacy is revived, offering a sanctuary where past, present, and future coalesce in the timeless embrace of literature.

Weight: 638g
Dimension: 164 x 242 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241471470

About the author

Patrick Barkham, a renowned writer who has received awards for his work, serves as a natural history author at The Guardian. His literary body of work encompasses titles like The Wild Isle, Wild Isles, The Butterfly Isles, Wild Green Wonders, Islander, and Wild Child. He holds the position of President at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, and he lives in Norfolk with his family.