At the Pond: Swimming at the Hampstead Ladies' Pond - Softcover

'A small but wonderful collection that shares the joy of the Ladies' Pond ... At the Pond is a series of essays about a body of water but these essays are about so much more than that.'-- Outdoor Swimming Society

'Captures the exhilaration of a visit to the Ladies' Pond.'-- The Herald

'If you're a pond dipper / wild swimmer / have ever front-crawled alongside a family of fuzzy buttercup ducklings / peculiarly adored silt in your pores / swum in water so cold you can feel your blood wrapping your heart and lungs in an invisible thermal blanket... this beautiful collection of essays is for you.' -- Dolly Alderton

'There's a ringing clarity, like the most purposeful swim. And also, there's the kind of poetry I love, found in prosaic things like bus routes and mobile phones and in the way old cucumber goes mushy inside its shrink wrap. There's lots of wit and perspicacity. There's cool honesty, insight and warmth, even in the coldest months... For every writer I already liked, I was rewarded with a great new-to-me find. Each of the stories is like a swim - none will be regretted, and none can be 'wrong'.' --Jenny Landreth, Caught by the River

'To see this most precious oasis through the eyes and words of these writers is a treat' -- The I

'A joy to read perfect for when you need an escape from the stresses of everyday life.' -- Culturefly

'A joyous collection of essays celebrating the sanctuary of the women's pond on Hampstead Heath.' -- New Statesman

'In this collection of work, writers including Margaret Drabble, Esther Freud, Deborah Moggach and Sophie Mackintosh share their stories of the pond and reflect on its history and present.' --Stylist

'The Ladies' bathing ponds on Hampstead Heath are a London institution, whether it s sunny or snowy, so what better way to immortalise them than with a book?' --Red