The Swimming Pool Library cover art

The Swimming Pool Library

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 15 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

The Swimming Pool Library

By: Alan Hollinghurst
Narrated by: Samuel West
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £13.58

Buy Now for £13.58

This novel centres on the friendship of William Beckwith, a young gay aristocrat who leads a life of privilege and promiscuity, and the elderly Lord Nantwich, who is searching for someone to write his biography.©2006 Alan Hollinghurst (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Heartfelt
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

"West has a lot of fun with the waspishly clever dialogue, and, provided you ensure it's not overheard by listeners of delicate sensibilities, this is terrific to listen to." (Karen Robertson, The Sunday Times)
All stars
Most relevant
Really enjoyed listening to this book. The characters are interesting and believable, especially Will who I think most people will be able to liken to a friend of their own. Think I have a good incite into what the gay scene was a few decades ago in middle class London. Felt a little cheated with a sudden ending, really wanted more. Other than that a really great 12 hours listening to this great story.

Funny and Warming

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Wonderful book, perfectly narrated. I was so grateful for it's length, not wanting to let go. Can't help but feel that AH's (stunningly written) graphic and lengthy descriptions of sexual encounters have to be self indulgence; if so, he richly deserves this pleasure. (I am a female heterosexual, just for the record) I only wish that Samuel West had narrated H's other novels - for me the two are forever joined.

A consummate talent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
loved it, fascinating characters wonderfully drawn, and set in the 80s, lots of enjoyable sex scenes, didn't want it to end, nasty little twist in the tail.

excellent story, beautiful narration

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Alan Hollinghurst cleverly structures his story to provide a representation of homosexual lives over several generations. Older gay men reading this novel will recognise the signs of the changing times and, I hope, rejoice at the emergence of freedoms so abundantly enjoyed by the likes of the narrator.

I do not agree with the previous reviewer that the sex scenes are done in "the best possible taste". They are described realistically and honestly in the way that such scenes rarely are, be the fiction gay or straight. No adult should be shocked by the acts, but rather by the honesty.

Samuel West's reading is sympathetic and absorbing, though a little lacking in characterisation for a first-person narrative.

Gay lit. of the highest order

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A compelling and sexy novel which raises complex issues around clad, sexuality and race. Samuel West's narration is perfect and nothing short of stunning.

Still superb after 20 years

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews