An immediate success when if was first published in 1653, Walton's classic celebrtion of the joys of fishing continues to captivate anglers and nature lovers with its timeless advice and instruction. Originally cast in the form of a dialogue between an experienced angler named Piscator and his pupil Viator, the book details methods for catching, eating, and savoring all varieties of fish, from the common chub to the lordly salmon. More than an engaging guide to the subtle intricacies of the sport, Walton's reflective treatise is a graceful portrait of rural England that extols the pleasures...

Walton's Lives have been praised, and dispraised, as prose-poems but it has been demonstrated that the author was an industrious and scrupulous biographer, collecting all the facts, suppressing none of them but putting an ecclesiastical emphasis where we nowadays should put a secular one.

Walton's popular classic treatise on fishing goes far beyond techniques, as it embraces a life that values serenity and appreciation for creation. Some of the natural history lore is antiquated, but keen intelligence and good humor express themselves in a readable and enjoyable manner.

The Compleat Angler has been in print for over 350 years. Just a how-to book on fishing would not have created such a popular book. Walton's comments on how to catch and prepare numerous varieties of fish create a pleasant leisure read for any fisherman. His anecdotes are as fresh and contemporary today as they were in his century.

This volume contains detailed and insightful biographies of a number of seminal writers - including John Donne, Henry Wotton, Richard Hooker, George Herbert, and Dr. Robt. Sanderson. This fascinating collection of lives would make for a worthy addition to any bookshelf, and will be of considerable utility to those with an interest in great authors, their thoughts, and personalities. Izaak Walton (1594 - 1683) was an English writer. He is best remembered for writing "The Compleat Angler," but also penned numerous short biographies that were published under the title "Walton's Lives." Many...

The Compleat Angler has been in print for over 350 years. Just a how-to book on fishing would not have created such a popular book. Walton's comments on how to catch and prepare numerous varieties of fish create a pleasant leisure read for any fisherman. His anecdotes are as fresh and contemporary today as they were in his century.

The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Fishing; Social Science / Sociology / Rural; Sports

'I envy no body but him, and him only, that catches more fish than I do.'
A unique celebration of the English countryside and the most famous book on angling ever published, Walton's Compleat Angler first appeared in 1653. In 1676, at Walton's invitation, his friend Charles Cotton contributed his pioneering exploration of fly-fishing. The book is both a manual of instruction and a vision of society in harmony with nature. It guides the novice fisherman on how to catch and cook a variety of fish, on how to select and prepare the best bait and make artificial flies, and on the habits of...