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The Girl in a Swing

richard adams

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A shy young man meets a beautiful woman in the company of a young girl. He finds himself swept off of his feet and married to her, bringing her with him to live in his family home. She is his erotic dream come true; she does everything she can to bind him to her and join him in his comfortable life.Soon, however, odd things begin to happen. Things in the house are strangely damp with what looks like seawater, bodies appear under the water that aren't really there. It all winds up to a horrifying conclusion.

339 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1,1980

This edition

Format
339 pages, Hardcover
Published
October 1, 1982 by Random House
ISBN
9780517391730
ASIN
0517391732
Language
English

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About the author

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richard adams

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Adams was born in Newbury, Berkshire. From 1933 until 1938 he was educated at Bradfield College. In 1938 he went up to Worcester College, Oxford to read Modern History. On 3 September 1939 Neville Chamberlain announced that the United Kingdom was at war with Germany. In 1940 Adams joined the British Army, in which he served until 1946. He received a class B discharge enabling him to return to Worcester to continue his studies for a further two years (1946-48). He took the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1948 and of Master of Arts in 1953.

He was a senior civil servant who worked as an Assistant Secretary for the Department of Agriculture, later part of the Department of the Environment, from 1948 to 1974. Since 1974, following publication of his second novel, Shardik, he has been a full-time author.

He originally began telling the story of Watership Down to his two daughters, Juliet and Rosamund, and they insisted he publish it as a book. It took two years to write and was rejected by thirteen publishers. When Watership Down was finally published, it sold over a million copies in record time in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Watership Down has become a modern classic and won both the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 1972. To date, Adams' best-known work has sold over 50 million copies world-wide, earning him more than all his other books put together.

As of 1982, he was President of the RSPCA.

He also contested the 1983 general election, standing as an Independent Conservative in the Spelthorne constituency on a platform of opposition to fox hunting.

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Community Reviews

Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
31(31%)
4 stars
29(29%)
3 stars
40(40%)
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100 reviews All reviews
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raczeq
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I found this book to be deeply disturbing.

It is divided into two parts. For the first 300 pages or so, it is a romantic story that is charming yet not completely compelling. There are just enough odd occurrences in this first part to maintain your interest and engagement, making you guess where the author is headed and think you have a good inkling. Adams' prose is always elegant, so you remain content as the story progresses steadily.

And then, in the last 75 pages, he hits you with a sledgehammer, jolting you out of your sedate progress. It is not really frightening, although there are one or two scary bits. However, the denouement is so disturbing that I was actually shaking at the end of it! This is a book that will stay with you for a long time, but in a way that will give you a shiver whenever you think of it. Nevertheless, it is most definitely worthy of a read.

You will be drawn in by the initial romance, only to be shocked by the unexpected turn in the later part. Adams has a way of lulling you into a false sense of security and then hitting you with a powerful and disturbing conclusion. It is a unique and unforgettable reading experience that will leave you with mixed emotions.

Despite the disturbing nature of the book, it is well-written and engaging throughout. The characters are well-developed, and the story has enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. If you are looking for a book that will challenge you and make you think, then this is definitely one to consider.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story with a bit of a twist. It may not be for everyone, but for those who are willing to take the plunge, it will be a reading experience they will not soon forget.
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Bwrb
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This is either one of the best books I've ever read, or one of the more offensive ones. I am still unsure, and continue oscillating between the two views.

On the one hand, it's impossible not to fall in love with the female protagonist. You share in the joy of the relationship between the protagonists and are inspired by the staggeringly lyrical use of language by the author. The plot builds up with terrifying complexity before it all falls apart.

On the other hand, putting aside the misogyny in the book, there is something deeply disturbing about the plot. While on the surface one might think otherwise, for me it's clear that the villain here is the male protagonist. He is exceptionally self-absorbed, consciously blinding himself to inconvenient truths. Beyond anything else, he is truly the source of the tragedy in this book due to an offhand remark he makes at the beginning of the relationship with Käthe. The fact that I'm not entirely sure whether this portrayal is conscious or subconscious is perhaps what lies at the core of my discomfort with the novel. If it's the former, then this is a nuanced critique of the male psyche. If it's the latter, however, this becomes a criticism of "gold digging" women, and this clearly didn't age well. Unfortunately, not enough of me believes the former.

I find myself constantly reevaluating my stance on this book. The beautiful language and engaging plot draw me in, yet the disturbing elements make me question its overall value. It's a complex and thought-provoking work that leaves me with more questions than answers.

Perhaps with further reflection and analysis, I will be able to come to a more definitive conclusion about this book. For now, I remain in a state of uncertainty, grappling with the conflicting emotions it has evoked within me.

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shakir-kun
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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While this book had great potential, it unfortunately did not live up to it.

It was extremely verbose, with the author using an excessive number of words to convey the story.

In fact, it took over 300 pages to tell a tale that could have easily been told in 200 pages or less.

This made the reading experience rather cumbersome and time-consuming.

Moreover, the book was labeled as a ghost story, but in reality, it did not truly deserve that classification.

The elements of a traditional ghost story were lacking, and it failed to create the expected atmosphere of mystery and spookiness.

Overall, despite its initial promise, this book fell short in several aspects and did not meet the expectations of the readers.
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liqkue
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I first read this book in my 30s.

It was a captivating experience that left a lasting impression on me.

Over the next 10 years, I found myself rereading it a few times.

Each time, I discovered new details and gained a deeper appreciation for its beauty and wisdom.

Now that I'm 65, I have a strong desire to read it again.

I wonder if, with the passage of time and the accumulation of life experiences, I can finally understand why I loved this book so much.

Perhaps it holds a special place in my heart because it speaks to something fundamental within me.

Or maybe it's the way the author weaves the story, creating a world that is both familiar and enchanting.

As I embark on this new reading journey, I'm filled with anticipation and excitement.

I can't wait to immerse myself in the pages of this beloved book once again and see what new insights and emotions it will bring.
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ygfan
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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4.7 stars.

Serious horror enthusiasts should definitely grab a copy of The Girl in a Swing. This beautiful novel is haunted by snatches of a witch woman and a terror tale. Pummeled by a ceramic fist, my eyes devoured the resplendent, Venusian descriptions of fine china, weeds, and flowers. It is pure poetry that you'll want to read aloud.

A socially awkward English man brings back a wife from mainland Europe, specifically Copenhagen. She is gorgeous, different, erotic, and...supernatural. Together, the groom and bride run the fine china shop...for a while. Fans of Tanith Lee should be drawn to The Girl due to its hallucinatory, abstract, scary, and foggy feel.

I'm not sure if there's a connection, but I wonder if Adam named his novel after the Rococo era painting "The Swing" by Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Adams' gorgeous prose surely matches the awesome magic of Fragonard's painting.

This book is a welcome addition to any serious collection of pretty prose or horror.
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DTBx91
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This was one of those books that could be read with enjoyment once. However, considering that a lifetime is so short and there are so many excellent novels to be read, it's hard to imagine anyone wishing to read it again.

In the 1970s, there was a television series in the UK with 45-minute horror stories, and this particular story would have made a great script for one of them. The novel, arguably, is a little too long for its storyline. There is perhaps an excessive amount of aficionado talk about porcelain and pottery, rather than focusing on the sinister haunting of the main female character. It seems as if the book is attempting to be a ghost story but doesn't quite succeed.

Nonetheless, I think it offers a good distraction for long waits at airport terminals. It's not an insult to intelligence or sensibility like what passes for "airport literature" or what the French call a "roman de gare". It's high-standard light reading that pretends to be a bit more than it actually is. But I don't want to be too hard on this book; it is definitely worth the read.
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stefeman
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Great writing but a really weird story.

It had such unique language and style that it was truly captivating to read. However, the plot was rather convoluted and I have to admit I couldn't really follow it easily.

I found myself getting confused as to how it ended. I guess I might have skipped too many paragraphs along the way, but at that point, I didn't care enough to re-read and try to figure it all out.

The story seemed to take so many unexpected turns that it was a challenge to keep up. Maybe with a more careful reading, I would have been able to understand it better, but as it stands, it remains a bit of a mystery to me.

Despite the confusion, I still appreciate the author's talent for creating such an interesting and engaging piece of writing.
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Grawe
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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A gripping, twisting, erotic horror novel awaits you. The character development is truly fascinating, drawing you in and making you care about each and every one. Even though there are still questions lingering at the end of the book, it only adds to the allure and mystery. The story is completely unpredictable, at least for me. It takes you on a wild ride that you never saw coming.

This is a significant departure from most of what people are familiar with when it comes to Richard Adams' work. It's like a complex tapestry, weaving together various horror and supernatural themes. These are then wound around an erotic love story, the rich history of ceramics, and the headlong journey of two star-crossed lovers. The combination of these elements creates a unique and unforgettable reading experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
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