Caleb S. Cage Libri

**Winner of the William Hill 2018 Sports Book of the Year Award** A Sunday Times Book of the Year and Telegraph Best Book of 2018 'Extraordinary' Clare Balding The poignant, life-affirming story of a determined boy, a visionary coach, and how the dream of a record-breaking Channel swim became reality Eltham, South London. 1984: the hot fug of the swimming pool and the slow splashing of a boy learning to swim but not yet wanting to take his foot off the bottom. Fast-forward four years. Photographers and family wait on the shingle beach as a boy in a bright orange hat and grease-smeared goggles swims the last few metres from France to England. He has been in the water for twelve agonizing hours, encouraged at each stroke by his coach, John Bullet, who has become a second father. This is the story of a remarkable friendship between a coach and a boy, and a love letter to the intensity and freedom of childhood.

The book offers a personal perspective on Iraqis' views regarding their first post-Saddam elections and the broader political landscape as the nation seeks to rebuild after dictatorship. It explores themes of chaotic security planning and the fundamental principles of democracy, highlighting the complex emotions and debates among the Iraqi people during this pivotal period of reinvention and hope for the future.

Set against the backdrop of the early Iraq War, this collection of interconnected short stories explores the diverse experiences of soldiers and civilians. It captures the intensity of battles with insurgents and the monotony of military life, while also shifting to Nevada, where characters grapple with the realities of war during leave or upon returning home. The narratives delve into the emotional and psychological impacts of conflict, providing a poignant reflection on the complexities of war and its aftermath.