https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jan/08/haunts-of-the-black-masseur-author-charles-sprawson-dies-aged-78

The author of ‘the best book about swimming ever written’ had been suffering from vascular dementia

Charles Sprawson, author of the cult swimming classic Haunts of the Black Masseur, has died at the age of 78.

The news was announced by Sprawson’s friend and fellow author Alex Preston, who called him “a majestic writer, a brilliant mind, a great friend”, and Haunts of the Black Masseur “the best book about swimming, perhaps the best book about any sport, ever written”.