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Swimming in the Dark
- Narrated by: Robert Nairne
- Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins
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Swimming in the Dark
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Summary
You were right when you said that people can't always give us what we want from them.
Poland, 1980. Anxious, disillusioned Ludwik Glowacki, soon to graduate university, has been sent along with the rest of his class to an agricultural camp. Here he meets Janusz - and together, they spend a dreamlike summer swimming in secluded lakes, reading forbidden books - and falling in love.
But with summer over, the two are sent back to Warsaw, and to the harsh realities of life under the Party. Exiled from paradise, Ludwik and Janusz must decide how they will survive; and in their different choices, find themselves torn apart.
Swimming in the Dark is an unforgettable debut about youth, love, and loss - and the sacrifices we make to live lives with meaning.
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What listeners say about Swimming in the Dark
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pagan Bear
- 31-10-21
Remarkable story of realisation and hope.
The protagonist has a fine ability to tell things how they may be and conveys the beauty of youthful growth and decisions to make the future happen as hoped for.
A luxurious book that focuses on the spiritual and emotional development with beautiful language and refreshing depth.
Hard not to fall in love with the author for his honest depiction of individuating with all its pain and joy.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Michael Wild
- 24-05-21
Worth reading
A personal, romantic and fictional memoir of the fall of communism in Poland. It is both a moving and a lucid record of a particular place and time.
This isn't a 'great' book in the literary sense. It is a small, intimate and honest book, and more moving for that reason.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lilly
- 17-05-20
A Great Read.
A delightful book that takes the reader on an emotional journey about love and life
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 15-03-22
Wow
With such heavy topics, it was a light book and enjoyable to listen to, with a good balance of history and humanity!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jamesen
- 17-09-24
Beautiful
A wonderful story, heartache at a difficult period in time. Definitely worth a listen, beautifully narrated
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- CJ
- 06-10-20
Moving.
A touching story, beautifully crafted and sympathetically narrated. For my generation, who grew up gay with neither role models nor acceptance from society, Swimming in the Dark is a particularly poignant story, but it will speak to everyone who could not get the one they loved.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Oliver Green
- 01-12-20
I might be crying now. So powerful.
I’m actually heartbroken now. Maybe because it’s a similar tale to my own. Such a good read that has truly made me feel something.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 04-03-22
loved every second
completely and utterly beautiful. written and performed with such care and love. thank you for this
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Gluttonio
- 22-05-21
Love in the time of Communism!
An enjoyable story of forbidden love under the communist regime in Poland, and how the two protagonists adopt different strategies to cope. Well written and heartfelt, I can't help thinking that although the story is timeless, it was written decades too late!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- marion
- 09-07-23
Really good
Beautiful book. Very descriptive and well narrated. Sad but very meaningful. Loved the Polish setting.
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