D. M. Thomas s new novel explores and am-

plifies the themes and the concentric narrative

of his previous book, Ararat but--althoUgh it

deals with some of the same characters and

incidents--it is a distinctive and indepehdent

work

The novel begins by a lake within a ilke in

Finland, where a different kind of Olympiad is

in progress: a contest between competing

improvisationists, who are wing for the !aurel

crown by extemporizing narratives to themes

set by their judges. And so as Swa//ow

progresses it unfolds the competing and!

complementary narratives of the rival

improvisationists: among them a moving:

quasi-autobiographical story of a young boy s

journey from post-World War II England tO

Australia; a hilarious and ribald take-often :