In the Bath: Conquering the Channel in a Piece of Plumbing

by Tim FitzHigham

The true story of Tim FitzHigham’s successful attempt to be the first person in history to row across the English Channel in a bath.

In a celebration of the epic absurd, the author of Around Ireland with a Fridge attempts to explain just how out of hand things can become from a very simple starting point. The book follows the author’s death-defying two hundred mile journey in his antique Thomas Crapper bath — not just across the Channel, but around Kent — right up to the tremendous reception and huge media attention which awaited him under Tower Bridge.

Tim met the Queen, and his bath now resides in the National Maritime Museum of Great Britain.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Humor, Memoir

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2010

About the author

Tim FitzHigham FRSA FRGS, is an award-winning British comedian, author, and world record holder. The feats he has performed include paddling a paper boat down 160 miles of the River Thames, rowing a bathtub across the English Channel, and inflating the world's largest balloon.

He wrote about the experience of rowing a bathtub across the English Channel in his first book, In The Bath, later retitled All At Sea. In honour of the event, Thomas Crapper and Co. Ltd made a special lavatory named after him, 'The Fitzhigham'. It is only the second commemorative lavatory in history, the other being made for Queen Victoria's jubilee.

Other than his records, FitzHigham has been kindly recognised in various ways, titles and honours. These include being a Freeman of the City of London, Freeman of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames, Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, the Commodore of Sudbury Quay, Pittancer of Selby Town and Most Puissant Knight de Santa Maria.

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a bit disappointed in this one - short story on it in The Moth - All These Wonders was hilarious but this was only mildly amusing and dragged a bit by the end.

[meliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d heard the Moth podcast last year and got this book as a gift for my Dad. He enjoyed it and lent it to me. I wasn’t sure how the story could get “extended” to a full length book, but I hung on every word. Well done, Tim!

[Derek Osbourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book so eccentrically British it just has to be read.

[Paul Whitla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much in the round Ireland with a fridge tradition this book chronicles the efforts of on Englishman to sail the English Channel in a copper bathtub. It is very hard to write this kind of book which is about your own exploits, without coming off as self-obsessed and narcissistic, the author here doesn’t always manage that. He seems to delight in the viewpoint that many other supposedly have of him that his completely utterly mad, and just bonkers. His relentless optimism can be a bit draining too as is his demotion of those who helped him in the cause to minor characters. Despite all that, not an uninteresting book and it did have its moments.

[Lizzie Lowrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book, which is rare. I bought the book because Tim's sorry was included in one of The Moth's compilation books and it was brilliant.
The book dragged a bit, but to be honest I just found the main character -Tim, really difficult to connect with and really difficult to like because he came across as really privileged from the beginning and it just got on my nerves. Normally I push though but I just couldn't. He needed a 'save the cat' moment and sadly it wasn't there.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book tells it all. Tim Fitzhigham is a comedian and decides to have a fund raiser for Comic Relief by rowing the English Channel in a bathtub! The book was hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud many times. Fitzhigham is an Englishman and his sense of humor was pretty dry at times, however, still humorous.

[Gary Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heroically hysterical.

[MrsAReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny, entertaining book about a,very British endeavor to row across the English Channel in a bathtub!

[Judson Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and lighthearted, this is a magnificent story of one man's attempt to do what should be impossible, but definitely is inadvisable.

[Rosie Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a lovely story but it took me so long to get into it .

[Stan Pedzick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written tale of a man who had an idea while at a pub to row a bathtub from England to France and all the trials and tribulations that follow as he does his best to accomplish it.

[Nick Adamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is wonderful silliness.
The book is great but the best way to find out about Tim and his bath is to hear him talk about it on stage.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF p65. I liked the author's humor, but the pace was very slow. I just couldn't get into the story.

[Claire Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A joy from start to finish. From my holiday sunbed, I laughed, I cried (behind my sunglasses) and felt deeply proud to be British.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reading

[Cari · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Slow start, but once the bath project got underway, became a lot more interesting. Bit hard to read as a non-Brit; very heavy on the Britishisms and I had to look up several references and even turns of phrases and I consider myself fairly well-informed for a Yank. But I didn't mind, was extremely entertaining and he finds the right balance between self-deprecating humor, humility, and pride.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book; some great moments, and genuine feelings expressed.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can get slow at some points but quite enjoyable and a great feat :)