The Swimmer

The Swimmer is a short story by American author John Cheever, published in 1964 in the short story collection The Brigadier and the Golf Widow. Originally meant to be part of a novel and pared down from over 150 pages of notes, it is probably Cheever's most famous story and it is frequently anthologized. At one point Cheever wanted to parallel the tale of Narcissus, a character in Greek mythology who died while staring at his own reflection in a pool of water, which Cheever dismissed as too restrictive. As published, the story is highly praised for its blend of realism and surrealism, the thematic exploration of suburban America, especially the relationship between wealth and happiness, as well as his use of myth and symbolism.

In print

• The Stories of John Cheever ISBN 0-3757-2442-7