Folio Archives 76: The Compleat Angler by Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton 1962
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1wcarter
The Compleat Angler by Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton 1962
This is a book that I bought for £3 when browsing a second-hand bookshop in Rutland while visiting a friend in England many years ago. I bought it because I knew of its fame, but never read it until this week after prompting by another FSD member to write this review.
The Compleat Angler was first published in 1653, and is a classic of English literature. It is in fact now two books, the first by Izaak Walton was added to in 1676 by Walton’s friend Charles Cotton.
The two books follow a common theme as a discussion between a fisherman (Piscator) and a hunter (Venator) about the joys of their respective interests. Other characters are added along the way, but both books soon become a monologue by Piscator on the joys of fishing, and in particular, angling for salmon and trout.
In intricate detail, Piscator describes how to fish for every imaginable type of fish found in England (eg. Minnow, Pike, Eels, Carp, Bream, Salmon, Trout etc.), as well as the details of the equipment (how to make a fishing line, a rod and lures etc.) and the types of fish found in most of the rivers of England. The text is interrupted by descriptions of the English countryside, ale houses, the laws of fishing and numerous songs about fishing and countyry life. There are also recipes for cooking each type of fish, which a modern cook may find amusing to try.
The Folio Society first published the Compleat Angler in 1949, only two years after its foundation, and it went through many printings. The book was reset and housed in a slipcase rather than a dust-jacket in 1962, and my copy is the 1964 third impression of the 1962 edition. Despite this, the title page still has the date MCMLIX. There were two later editions of The Compleat Angler published by the Folio Society in 1973 and 2000.
The 272 page book is printed letterpress and bound in plain undecorated green cloth with a gilt title and FS logo on the spine. 28 engravings of fish and countryside scenes by Lynton Lamb are scattered through the text, while the endleaves are printed with a fish design in grey by Lamb. The 23.3x15cm. slipcase is plain grey.
Endpapers
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
This is a book that I bought for £3 when browsing a second-hand bookshop in Rutland while visiting a friend in England many years ago. I bought it because I knew of its fame, but never read it until this week after prompting by another FSD member to write this review.
The Compleat Angler was first published in 1653, and is a classic of English literature. It is in fact now two books, the first by Izaak Walton was added to in 1676 by Walton’s friend Charles Cotton.
The two books follow a common theme as a discussion between a fisherman (Piscator) and a hunter (Venator) about the joys of their respective interests. Other characters are added along the way, but both books soon become a monologue by Piscator on the joys of fishing, and in particular, angling for salmon and trout.
In intricate detail, Piscator describes how to fish for every imaginable type of fish found in England (eg. Minnow, Pike, Eels, Carp, Bream, Salmon, Trout etc.), as well as the details of the equipment (how to make a fishing line, a rod and lures etc.) and the types of fish found in most of the rivers of England. The text is interrupted by descriptions of the English countryside, ale houses, the laws of fishing and numerous songs about fishing and countyry life. There are also recipes for cooking each type of fish, which a modern cook may find amusing to try.
The Folio Society first published the Compleat Angler in 1949, only two years after its foundation, and it went through many printings. The book was reset and housed in a slipcase rather than a dust-jacket in 1962, and my copy is the 1964 third impression of the 1962 edition. Despite this, the title page still has the date MCMLIX. There were two later editions of The Compleat Angler published by the Folio Society in 1973 and 2000.
The 272 page book is printed letterpress and bound in plain undecorated green cloth with a gilt title and FS logo on the spine. 28 engravings of fish and countryside scenes by Lynton Lamb are scattered through the text, while the endleaves are printed with a fish design in grey by Lamb. The 23.3x15cm. slipcase is plain grey.
Endpapers
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
3podaniel
>2 EclecticIndulgence:
I'll second Little Grey Men--I just read it with my daughter. It's a wonderful story full of vivid nature writing. The little grey men are almost--almost--beside the point. Another hidden gem that FS used to be great at unearthing (as opposed to not providing us with any children's book as part of the fall offering).
I'll second Little Grey Men--I just read it with my daughter. It's a wonderful story full of vivid nature writing. The little grey men are almost--almost--beside the point. Another hidden gem that FS used to be great at unearthing (as opposed to not providing us with any children's book as part of the fall offering).
4Jayked
It wouldn't make sense for Folio to do Little Grey Men since Slightly Foxed has the entire series under way, first two already published. They have the original illustrations and are produced to a high standard by Smith Settle. The size is more modest than the average Folio, but so is the price. https://foxedquarterly.com/products/slightly-foxed-cubs-classic-childrens-books/
5overthemoon
FS published the first Little Grey Men and maybe missed out on the others... It's quite annoying as SF only sold the first two together as a set, so if I bought that set my FS book would be redundant.
6NLNils
Thank you Warwick! I bought this book out of fishing nostalgia as well (also the latest version with the Rackham illustrations). It’s quintessential British to me and seemingly well placed within the series. Have to read it first to see in which camp I’ll end up. If it makes one wander in thought whilst reading, it will have hit the spot!
