Compleat Angler, The

The greatest classic of angling literature and a unique celebration of the English countryside, Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler was originally published in 1653. No book, apart from the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, has been more often reprinted. As a treatise on the art of fishing it has never wholly been superseded. For its advice on the catching and cooking of fish, the rules for baits, and the making of artificial flies, it remains a valuable and engrossing guide. As a graceful and affectionate portrait of rural England its charm is irresistible and in Walton we could not wish for a more congenial companion. Read by Richard Johnson.