Rosalind Brackenbury: The Third Swimmer

This is the story of a marriage between two Britons, Olivia and Thomas. The first part of the novel takes place in London, on the brink of war, bracing for invasion. It ends with a bomb that would have killed Olivia, had Olivia not been spending the night with her married lover, Felix. Prior to spending her final night with Felix, Olivia has accepted a proposal of marriage from Thomas, a more suitable life partner. Part Two opens in 1952, after the war, but with the effects of the war still haunting the survivors as well as the landscape. Thomas and Olivia, now married with children, have traveled to the south coast of France, to have what might be their delayed honeymoon. But their marriage has cooled down almost to the point of dying out. The central event of the novel is an attempt by Thomas to rescue a stranger seen drowning out at sea. The couple’s future will depend on the outcome of this impetuous act of bravery.

Rosalind Brackenbury is the author of many novels and collections of poetry. In 2015 she was named Poet Laueate of Key West, Florida. She has worked as a teacher, a book reviewer, a deck hand, a mother, and a college professor. She lives in Key West and spends part of each year in France.