"Part cultural history, part personal ode to the nostalgic joys of outdoor swimming, this deep dive into lidos is must-read for readers who love non-fiction with emotional edge."
Unpacking cultural history, social trends and ideological shifts through the lens (or should that be goggles?) of lidos, Tom Fort’s Lido Land is an emotive, informative work that might just inspire readers to locate their nearest lido at the earliest possible opportunity. Deeply personal, the book ripples with a sense of community across classes and decades, and with the personalities of colourful real-life characters conjured from lidos of yore.
One of Lido Land’s greatest strengths is perhaps the fact that Fort wasn’t always a lido lover: “It has taken me a while to understand the point of lidos and to see them for the priceless national asset they are”, he shares near the start of his book. “My moment of truth came during a visit to south-east London on a hot September day in 2023.
It was a curiously spiritual experience... I felt the specialness of the lido, and the acute pleasure of the swimmers and sunbathers in being there. Their joyousness was palpable, in the water and in the air and in the buildings around the blue rectangle. There was nowhere I would rather have been on that late summer’s afternoon.
I became a lido convert”. As a result of this powerfully personal conversion story, readers are likely to become swept up in the appeal and purpose of lidos alongside him, not least when Fort explores the communal aspect of lidos, and the fact that they’re “open to all. Democracy and equality reign”.
Beyond being perfect for confirmed lido-lovers, Lido Land is a beautifully informative, emotionally impactful book for readers who are fascinated by social and cultural history, and those who adore being swept up in waves of nostalgia.
People are currently flocking back to Britain's lidos in their thousands. But this isn't the first time they've made a splash.
| Primary Genre | Travel |
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People are currently flocking back to Britain's lidos in their thousands. But this isn't the first time they've made a splash.From the author of The A303: Highway to the Sun comes a deep dive into the historical and cultural significance of the British lido that will make you fall in love with outdoor swimming.Tom Fort takes us on a fun-packed journey around the UK's lidos past and present, proving that lidos can tell us more about social trends, progress and political ideology than you might think.
Lido Land features in the following genres: Non-Fiction Books of the Month, History, Lifestyle, Hobbies and Leisure, Sports, Travel, Travel writing, Social and cultural history, Swimming and diving, History and Archaeology, History: specific events and topics, Social and cultural history, Water sports and recreations, Swimming and diving, Travel writing
Hardback. £18.00, down from the £20.00 cover price. In Stock.
Lido Land was written by Tom Fort and published by Apollo an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK)
Lido Land has 336 pages
£18.00, reduced from £20.00. In Stock.
