Translated by Dexter Petley and Laure Claesen, this book was first written in 1926 and is possibly one of the most important books of angling literature ever written. Illustrated with superb lino-cuts by artist John Richardson, the book was shortlisted for the Oxford-Weidenfeld Translation Award, 2006.
'This strange atmospheric novel, on the surface a work of French regionalism and fishing, is just below busy with post-war ructions, losses and poignancy, Freudian eroticism, paeans to masculinity, visceral bloodiness and a kind of despair-tinged hope. Its translation is rich and strange, "stretched by the weight of fabulous fish", and so fluid you can't believe it, keeping its slightly nostalgic, archaic note at the same time as suggesting timelessness.' - Ali Smith, The Oxford-Weidenfeld Award Ceremony 2006
' . . . outstanding . . . the best book on angling I have read for some years.' - Professor Barrie Rickards, FishingMagic.com
'. . . easily the best fishing book I've read in ten years. It makes The Longest Silence seem positively bland.' - Chris Yates
