Taking the Waters: Spirit, Art, Sensuality [Hardcover]

Alev Lytle Croutier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1992

Illustrated with mythological, neoclassical and romantic masterpieces, spa/travel posters of the "Belle Epoque" and other popular period advertising art, as well as contemporary photographs, this book traces the evolution of spas. Opening with prehistoric sacred springs and Roman baths, it moves on to the fabulous watering holes of elite society in Europe, Asia and the US, including such legendary spas as Evian and Vichy in France; Baden Baden in Germany; Baden and Badragaz in Switzerland; Spa in Belgium; Marienbad in Czechoslovakia; Bath in Britain; Montecatini Terme, San Pellegrino and Salsomaggiore in Italy; Beppu and Fukata in Japan and Saratoga and Calistoga in the US. By way of prelude to this history of health-seeking and hedonism, "Taking the Waters" dives into the mythological and religious history of water - including water deities, sprites, mermaid, ritual baths, sacred rivers - and concludes by bringing this most universal of subjects up to date with a guide to the world's most exclusive spas such as the Golden Door and Cal A Vie in the US and Rancho La Puerta in Mexico.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Croutier ( Harem ) visited many of the world's famed spas, including Evian in France and Baden-Baden in Germany. Her tour of watering places from California to Switzerland is the core of this charming, copiously illustrated volume, which accentuates the role of spas as therapeutic havens, hedonistic retreats and oases of artistic creativity. She opens with a look at water's mythical associations; nymphs, mermaids, sacred springs, Venus/Aphrodite and water monsters (like the plesiosaurs said to swim in Loch Ness) get their due. Croutier surveys bottled waters, warns of pollution and global overconsumpton of H2O HO and samples water motifs in art, literature, movies and plays. She devotes short, entertaining sections to water rituals, rainmaking, music inspired by water, dowsing, fountains. Paintings by Botticelli, Klimt, Turner, Degas and Picasso as well as photographs and posters are featured in 140 plates (60 in color). BOMC and QPB selections.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Pr; 1st edition (September 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558592199
• ISBN-13: 978-1558592193
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,455,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alev Lytle Croutier is the most widely published woman novelist of Turkish origin whose books have been translated into 23 languages.
Croutier was born in Izmir, Turkey, studied Literature at Robert College in Istanbul, Art History at Oberlin College,and film Studies at NYU. She has written and directed films in Japan, Turkey, Europe, and the US and was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship (the first ever for a screenplay)for "Tell Me a Riddle," based on Tillie Olsen's acclaimed novel.
Croutier also founded Mercury House publishing company in San Francisco and served as the executive editor for almost a decade--editing numerous books, and actively supporting writers in diverse cultures, including Nobel recepients, in getting published.
Croutier has been in numerous radio shows and TV documentaries. She has also taught at Dartmouth, Goddard, and San Francisco State Universities and lectures frequently at academic institutions, museums, libraries, and conferences on Orientalism, Middle Eastern women, harems, and Turkish culture.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Spirit, Spas, Art, Sensuality, History, Mythology of Water, April 8, 2005

By 

Bugs "Patrick" (Los Angeles, Ca.) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Taking the Waters: Spirit, Art, Sensuality (Hardcover)

Ms Croutier gives a well researched and thorough perspective on the human history and adoration for our "Noblest Element", water. The focus of this book is spas, health retreats, baths and drinking water- and that's great, but there is so much more!

The many posters, photos, renown paintings and drawings are well chosen and beautiful and makes this book a beautiful table top addition.

Ms Croutier states that "...I was born under the sign of Aquarius-the Water Bearer-in a house facing the sea... and now living in a house facing another sea". No wonder she shows such remarkable sensitivity to the subject.

All through the book are quotes, lines and poetry from notables throughout history regarding their observations on the value and dynamics of water. In the Preface for instance, there is: ["As Benjamin Franklin's `Poor Richard's Almanac' observes: "When the well's dry, we know the worth of water".] and in Ms Croutier's own words: "Water has it's own language. I believe that by observing the ways that people have danced with it throughout history, we can gain a deeper awareness of this most precious element. A responsible appreciation of water is fundamental to our ecological, environmental, and spiritual values." Well put and what a "dance" she portrays!

From Hegel: "Water is the element of selfless contrast, it passively exists for others... water's existence is thus an existing-for-others... Its fate is to be something not yet
specialized... and therefore it soon came to be called `the mother of all that is special'." (p 13)

On page 14 in "Myths of Creation" is: "Among ancient civilizations, water was sanctified as the source of life, the seminal fluid, the juice of the earth's womb. It formed a common thread in their creation myths. The act of creation was perceived by the primitives as the catharsis of a dance that the great deities performed. These deities were the elements, inseparable and interdependent systems orchestrating the cycles of nature, the seasons, and the sustenance of all beings. Water could not exist without earth, fire, or air."

From the Kogi Indians (spelled Cogui in this book), who live in the Columbian mountains, comes an admonition to the world about the abuse of water and environmental degradation: ["What is water?" Water is life itself.] To the Kogi, the word for water and spirit are the same. ("The Prophecy of Water"- p 183)

At the end of the book is a resource guide to famous spas/health resorts from all over the world. After reading this book, one will no doubt have a more profound respect for the awesome medium that makes spas and health retreats so refreshing, rejuvenating and enjoyable!

2 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WATER IS LIFE, August 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Taking the Waters: Spirit, Art, Sensuality (Hardcover)

TAKING THE WATERS is just a warm-up for Alev Lytle Croutier. Her previous book, HAREM, was a blockbuster breakthrough in nonfiction, selected by independent book clubs all over the world. Ms Croutier will soon be the author of remarkable fictional works that will stun many readers with their profound sensitivity. I predict a sensation.