The Swimmer
The Swimmer, short story by John Cheever, published in The New Yorker (July 18, 1964) and collected in The Brigadier and the Golf Widow (1964). A masterful blend of fantasy and reality, it chronicles a middle-aged man’s gradual acceptance of the truth that he has avoided facing—that his life is in ruins.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
Citation Information
Article Title:
The Swimmer
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
02 May 2016
Access Date:
November 14, 2026