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Overview

“The Swimmer” is a 1964 short story by American author John Cheever that tells the story of Neddy Merrill, an affluent suburbanite who decides to swim home through all the pools in his neighborhood. As he progresses through the pools, however, he begins to realize that something is not quite right. Cheever's narrative explores themes of denial, disillusionment, and the harsh realities that lie beneath the veneer of suburban bliss. “The Swimmer” was adapted into a film in 1968 starring Burt Lancaster. 

Explore a plot summary, an in-depth analysis of Neddy Merrill, and important quotes.

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