How far can a man who has faced absolute evil go to avoid collapsing, to overcome his suffering, and to look to the future again? The Swimmer recounts the extraordinary destiny of Alfred Nakache. Born in Constantine, he quickly became French and European champion before setting a world record. This top-level athlete was selected to represent France at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and then at the 1948 London Games; but in between, he faced the ultimate ordeal of a lifetime. Denounced by a rival as a Jew and a member of the Resistance to the Toulouse Gestapo, he was deported with his young wife, Paule, and their little girl, Annie. From Auschwitz to Buchenwald, via the death march, he survived thanks to an extraordinary will and athletic constitution. But at what cost? Offering a breathtaking journey through the century, The Swimmer is the story of a life driven by a single goal: excellence and self-transcendence. And above all, in all circumstances, hold on, stand firm, resist. A life lesson.
- Year of the edition: 2026
- Original title: Le Nageur
- Original language: French
- Translation: Dubravka Celebrini
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