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Swimming Pretty: The Untold Story of Women in Water
by
65/99
Critics
49/99
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Scholars
46/99
Rating
84/99
Volume
56/99
Rating
42/99
Volume
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About This Book
From vaudeville tank shows to the Olympic arena, a groundbreaking history of how women found synchronicity―and power―in water. "If you're not strong enough to swim fast, you're probably not strong enough to swim 'pretty,'" said a young Esther Williams to impresario Billy Rose. Since the nineteenth century, tensions between beauty and strength, aesthetics and athleticism have both impeded and propelled the careers of female swimmers―none more so than synchronized swimmers, for whom Williams is considered godmother. In this deeply researched history, Vicki Valosik traces a century of aquatic performance for the first time, from Victorian variety theater and carnival shows to the 1984 elevation of synchronized swimming to Olympic status. Writing in eloquent prose, Valosik shows how early starlets like Lurline the Water Queen and Annette Kellerman boldly challenged restrictive codes set for women in water; more than just bathing beauties, they influenced lifesaving and physical-education programs, dropped national drowning rates, and paved the way for new generations of female swimming athletes. Brimming with reverence and mesmerizing detail, Swimming Pretty finally foregrounds an essential American sport. 60 black-and-white illustrations
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Reviews
"An astonishingly comprehensive account of women's aquatic pursuits, with special focus on the United Kingdom, where competitive swimming originated."
"While the breadth of the material leans toward the academic, a plethora of fascinating facts combined with groundbreaking developments throughout the years will captivate readers curious about a sport that requires skills, stamina, and strength and that deserves respect."
"With firsthand knowledge, diligent research, and colorful prose, Valosik provides an engaging, energetic history."
"A timely tribute to the glamour and athleticism of the pioneering women of synchronized swimming and their efforts to legitimize it as a sport."
"An incisive marriage of sports and cultural history, this is well worth diving into."
"Thanks to Valosik's extensive research and gift for illustrating the ways in which her titular women in water have influenced history."
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