Book Review: Swimming in the Dark

Author: Tomasz Jedrowski 

Published: 06 February 2020

Genres: Coming-of-age story, LGBT Literature

Set in early 1980s Poland against the violent decline of communism, a tender and passionate story of first love between two young men who eventually find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide—a stunningly poetic and heartrending literary debut for fans of Andrè Aciman, Garth Greenwell, and Alan Hollinghurst. 

When university student Ludwik meets Janusz at a summer agricultural camp, he is fascinated yet wary of the handsome, carefree stranger. But a chance meeting by the river soon becomes an intense, exhilarating, and all-consuming affair. After their camp duties are fulfilled, the pair spend a dreamlike few weeks camping in the countryside, bonding over an illicit copy of James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room. Inhabiting a beautiful natural world removed from society and its contraints, Ludwik and Janusz fall deeply in love. But their repressive communist and Catholic society, the passion they share is utterly unthinkable. 

This is an absolutely beautiful, gorgeous story about sacrifice, love, longing, lies and dark secrets. Such a short book that is packed with a wonderful happy hour lucky punch. Queer historical fiction at its utterly best, having Andrè Aciman run for his money. It is an absolutely heartbreaking book to read, though the book is very short it got me wanting and craving for more. 

Tomasz definitely left the us all with a cliffhanger and questions that we won’t really get answers to. Does Ludwik and Janusz meet again after they have parted ways? Does Janusz still love Ludwik? Does Ludwik find someone else? The unknowing is so painfully unbearable. Will we see move of Ludwik and Janusz in the future or is this the end of the road for them?