Sunbathing in the Rain
Gwyneth Lewis(Author)
Flamingo (Publisher)
Published on 3. February 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-0-00-712062-8 (ISBN)
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Description
This title tackles the subject of depression, an illness that seems to be the defining malaise of the early 21st century. The overall structure of the book moves from dark to light, telling the story of the author's recovery, its different strands allow a variety of tones and subjects to be explored, from the profound to the frivolous. Part memoir - drawing on her own experiences, both adverse and encouraging, as a depressive and an alcoholic - and part guide or companion, the author unpacks her dark memories, and re-embarks on a journey that nearly killed her first time round. She survives, again, and shows how others might, too.
Reviews / Votes
'While many books about depression bring one down with their tales of dark mood states, and others bring one down with artificial and unconvincing messages of hope, Gwyneth Lewis's Sunbathing in the Rain is both witty and wise: a profound musing on the problem of depression that is deeply informed yet full of hope and cheer.' Andrew Solomon, author of the award-winning THE NOONDAY DEMON 'Sunbathing in the Rain is undoubtedly the best book I have ever read about one person's experience of depression.' Dorothy Rowe, author of BREAKING THE BONDS 'I started reading the book on a rainy afternoon and read it right through without stopping to late evening. I was seized by its rhythm of discovery, its humour, courage and sharp-eyed insight. Gwyneth truly draws on literature, bringing to bear writers from everywhere and every time as part of present experience. She gives you confidence in poetry. And she is wonderfully down-to-earth in her advice.' Dame Professor Gillian Beer, President of Clare Hall, Cambridge University 'None of the famous universities Gwyneth Lewis attended set exams so merciless as depression did, or taught her such finally luminous wisdom. That's why we get sent on that largest and most hideous course, and why life is so delicious if we live to graduate.This new book by Wales' premier young poet is one of the very best of the many survivor testimonies appearing today.' Les Murray 'Felicitous, urbane, heartbreaking, the poems of Gwyneth Lewis form a universe whose planets use language for oxygen and are thus inhabitable' Joseph BrodskyMore details
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
1 b/w illus, With index
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
185 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-712062-8 (9780007120628)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions

Book
10/2006
HarperPerennial
€32.37
Article not available at the moment
Person
Gwyneth Lewis is an award-winning poet whose work has drawn widespread acclaim. Her previous book, Zero Gravity, which followed the journey of her cousin to repair the Hubble Space telescope, used the science of space to describe a voyage, a death and coming to terms with lost love, was shortlisted for the Forward Prize. She is married and lives in Cardiff.