The Chronicle of a Compulsive Angler
by Chris Yates
by Chris Yates
What better way to start off this blog than with a modern classic. Chris Yates is probably my favourite author alive today and with good reason. No one else I've read quite manages to capture the essence of why we go fishing as Yates does in all he writes.
Unfortunately I'm far from alone in thinking this and consequently his books have become much sought after and the prices reflect this. On the plus side, again due to his popularity, reprints are common and can be picked up at far more reasonable prices. But let's forget all that and get down to the book itself, for what price can be put on a piece of true escapism such as this?
The above quote sets the scene for the book. We start off in early spring, sitting with Chris in one of the many salmon huts dotted along the avon, the swollen river rushing past outside. Only the hardened salmon anglers, with judgment muddied by anticipation, would be out on the river today. Out of the cold wind but still with the sound of water running by outside, Chris sits and starts penning a few personal notes in his diary. It is these few words that begin our journey as he takes us into his own world.
Whilst the avon is the recurrent theme throughout, his pen does occasionally drift off to a mist shrouded carp pool or a willow lined tributary. Just about every species that swims in or around the avon valley is covered in this book. From gudgeon to salmon, minnows to barbel and everything in between. Though as with all of Chris' books, it's the coarse fish that predominate.
As the pages turn and the seasons change so too does the feeling of the writing. Whilst Chris' earlier angling writings were dominated by carp, barbel can be seen slowly swimming into his work and thoughts. By the end of the book he's become a man obsessed and despite holding the record for the biggest carp ever caught in Britain, it's the barbel that takes pride of place in his angling dreams.
Many of you will know Chris through the tv series "A Passion for Angling" with Bob James and filmed and directed by Hugh Miles. A true classic and quite possibly still the greatest angling series ever filmed (Hugh's talent for capturing a moment is unsurpassed). Filming took place whilst this book was being written and a chapter has been devoted to the events that went on. An interesting diversion but much of it overlaps with the BBC book of the series (a very good read in itself).
In summary, for the obsessed barbel angler this is a must. For anyone with the slightest interest in the River Avon this is also a must. For every other angler this is, like all of Yates' books, a modern day classic that could and should be read many times over.
Several years ago the Medlar Press issued a small format reprint in their Medlar Classics series, available in both hardback and paperback. Whilst it's nice to have an affordable readily available version of this book I would really recommend trying to get your hands on one of the larger format editions. Either the 1990 first edition or the 1991 reprint. The full colour photographs in these books comliment the text beautifully and are sadly lacking in the small format reprints.
Coch Y Bonddu Books has many copies of this title available. Everything from fine first editions through to the cheap paperback Medlar Press reprint.
First published by Unwin Hyman in 1990.
Click here to go back to the list of all reviews.
Unfortunately I'm far from alone in thinking this and consequently his books have become much sought after and the prices reflect this. On the plus side, again due to his popularity, reprints are common and can be picked up at far more reasonable prices. But let's forget all that and get down to the book itself, for what price can be put on a piece of true escapism such as this?
"A river has been running through my head since I was a boy. I saw the Hampshire Avon, just once, when I was ten and immediately thought it was the most beautiful river in the world."
The above quote sets the scene for the book. We start off in early spring, sitting with Chris in one of the many salmon huts dotted along the avon, the swollen river rushing past outside. Only the hardened salmon anglers, with judgment muddied by anticipation, would be out on the river today. Out of the cold wind but still with the sound of water running by outside, Chris sits and starts penning a few personal notes in his diary. It is these few words that begin our journey as he takes us into his own world.
Whilst the avon is the recurrent theme throughout, his pen does occasionally drift off to a mist shrouded carp pool or a willow lined tributary. Just about every species that swims in or around the avon valley is covered in this book. From gudgeon to salmon, minnows to barbel and everything in between. Though as with all of Chris' books, it's the coarse fish that predominate.
As the pages turn and the seasons change so too does the feeling of the writing. Whilst Chris' earlier angling writings were dominated by carp, barbel can be seen slowly swimming into his work and thoughts. By the end of the book he's become a man obsessed and despite holding the record for the biggest carp ever caught in Britain, it's the barbel that takes pride of place in his angling dreams.
Many of you will know Chris through the tv series "A Passion for Angling" with Bob James and filmed and directed by Hugh Miles. A true classic and quite possibly still the greatest angling series ever filmed (Hugh's talent for capturing a moment is unsurpassed). Filming took place whilst this book was being written and a chapter has been devoted to the events that went on. An interesting diversion but much of it overlaps with the BBC book of the series (a very good read in itself).
In summary, for the obsessed barbel angler this is a must. For anyone with the slightest interest in the River Avon this is also a must. For every other angler this is, like all of Yates' books, a modern day classic that could and should be read many times over.
Several years ago the Medlar Press issued a small format reprint in their Medlar Classics series, available in both hardback and paperback. Whilst it's nice to have an affordable readily available version of this book I would really recommend trying to get your hands on one of the larger format editions. Either the 1990 first edition or the 1991 reprint. The full colour photographs in these books comliment the text beautifully and are sadly lacking in the small format reprints.
Coch Y Bonddu Books has many copies of this title available. Everything from fine first editions through to the cheap paperback Medlar Press reprint.
First published by Unwin Hyman in 1990.
Click here to go back to the list of all reviews.
No comments:
Post a Comment
If you have any comments or anything to add to this review then please feel free to do so.