The Compleat Angler

by Izaak Walton

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Genres: Nonfiction, Classics, Nature, Philosophy, Sports, 17th Century, Poetry

215 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1676

About the author

Izaak Walton (c. 1594[1] – 15 December 1683) was an English writer. Best known as the author of The Compleat Angler, he also wrote a number of short biographies that have been collected under the title of Walton's Lives.

Walton was born at Stafford c. 1594; the traditional '9 August 1593' date is based on a misinterpretation of his will, which he began on 9 August 1683.[1] The register of his baptism gives his father's name as Gervase. His father, who was an innkeeper as well as a landlord of a tavern, died before Izaak was three. His mother then married another innkeeper by the name of Bourne, who would later run the Swan in Stafford.

He settled in London where he began trading as an ironmonger in a small shop in the upper storey of Thomas Gresham's Royal Burse or Exchange in Cornhill. In 1614 he had a shop in Fleet Street, two doors west of Chancery Lane in the parish of St Dunstan's.[2] He became verger and churchwarden of the church, and a friend of the vicar, John Donne.[1] He joined the Ironmongers' Company in November 1618.[1]

Walton's first wife was Rachel Floud (married December 1626), a great-great-niece of Archbishop Cranmer. She died in 1640. He soon remarried, to Anne Ken (1646–1662), who appears as the pastoral Kenna of The Angler's Wish; she was a stepsister of Thomas Ken, afterwards bishop of Bath and Wells.

After the Royalist defeat at Marston Moor in 1644, Walton retired from his trade. He went to live just north of his birthplace, at a spot between the town of Stafford and the town of Stone, where he had bought some land edged by a small river. His new land at Shallowford included a farm, and a parcel of land; however by 1650 he was living in Clerkenwell, London. The first edition of his book The Compleat Angler was published in 1653. His second wife died in 1662, and was buried in Worcester Cathedral, where there is a monument to her memory. One of his daughters married Dr Hawkins, a prebendary of Winchester.

The last forty years of his life were spent visiting eminent clergymen and others who enjoyed fishing, compiling the biographies of people he liked, and collecting information for the Compleat Angler. After 1662 he found a home at Farnham Castle with George Morley, bishop of Winchester, to whom he dedicated his Life of George Herbert and his biography of Richard Hooker. He sometimes visited Charles Cotton in his fishing house on the Dove.

Walton died in his daughter's house at Winchester, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral.

Reviews

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Compleat Angler is a book that has been continuously in print for more than 350 years. Indeed, about five years ago I saw a nearly 300-year-old copy of it in the glass case at Half Price Books being sold for a steep figure. It's now freely and easily obtainable online, via Project Gutenberg and in other PDF editions as well as in audiobook form via Libravox.

So what could possibly be interesting about a four-centuries-old fishing book?
A lot, as it turns out.

Izaak Walton's objective was not only to craft a "how to do" book, but a "how to live" one. He separates the world into men who stop by the river to look and contemplate versus those who foolishly pass it by in pursuit of their temporal greedy concerns. In many ways, it is one of the first environmental treatises ever written. Walton was a religious man and, for him, to not stop to smell the roses, or to not sit and cast one's line into a gently babbling brook and drink in the wonders of God's creation is nothing short of a sin.

The book takes the form initially of a dialogue between a fisherman, a hunter and a falconer, each describing the wonders of his outdoor sport. The angler, named Piscator, seems at a disadvantage, and is slightly chided by the other two for having the most boring and least sporting of the avocations. In wonderfully rambling monologues, he defends the nobility of what he calls his Art, explains its history and cites its origin in ancient texts, muses on its various aspects, and touches on numerous related philosophical, Biblical, and naturalistic concerns. Walton sees fishing as nothing less than a religious experience, as pious an act as praying or bestowing the sacraments. For him, fishing is a sane act for sane men, and for those seeking sanity in a chaotic world. It is the essence of morality.

In short order, the hunter Venetor, impressed by Piscator's knowledge of fish and fishing, requests to be his student, allowing Walton a framework to describe types of fish, ways of catching them, the accouterments and baits needed to do so, and their proper cleaning and culinary preparation. The lessons occur over five days and have the flavor of a memorable outdoor adventure.

Some of the loveliest passages in the book are reminiscences of deceased friends, remembered in their moments of bliss at the water's edge, observed in the storyteller's minds-eye and spoken about with love and respect. There but for the grace of God go I, the teller intimates.

The book is a classic of English literature, a paean to the beauty of English pastoral life, and a contemplation of the human place in the natural order as well as a call for responsible and respectful stewardship of those wonders. Walton, in one example, decries the practice of overfishing, predicting future disaster from it. Some of the book's advocacy for questionable hunting practices (the poor otter is not especially liked herein) do not stand up to contemporary animal-rights scrutiny, but for its time shows overall enlightenment.

The Compleat Angler is, most poignantly, perhaps, a celebration of friendship and fellowship, particularly among those engaged in convivial shared activity. And it reminds us, too, of the need for tolerance of differences and for charity. Particularly important messages in our time of growing hatreds.

It is a lovely book. I hope to read it again.

(Kr@Ky 2016)

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to find an answer to the question what is to be preferred 'angling or hunting' you should have a closer look into this book. In form of a philosophical dialogue the Piscator convinces the Venator (who regards the Piscator as his master) of the superiority of angling. You'll learn about the different ways of angling, come to know about proper fish and get the right attitude of the compleat angler. If you go to Marlow (UK) then you can go to the bar of the Perfect Angler Hotel, have a pint and enjoy all the marvelous illustrations of the book and you'll even find a small sculpture on the main characters of this book. Excellent prose, hypnotic writing (even though the book is very old) and really recommended (even for non-anglers like me). This classic was a huge bestseller back then and if you reading now you get a hint why it was so popular!

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Philosophy and fishing--two topics I would not say I am overwhelming familiar with or necessarily interested in. But I've been keen to read this book ever since I came across it in 84, Charing Cross Road, and it's a book I often see at book fairs for collecting. I suppose when you fish you have plenty of time to think and contemplate the universe. I tend to think that sometimes, whether or not you catch a fish is completely irrelevant. I can't say that it was the most enthralling book I've ever read (or listened to in this case), but it was interesting, and something I will probably come back to at a later time for a deeper dive.

[Rosemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written by two authors, Izaak Walton who wrote the larger part, and Charles Cotton, who wrote a section on fishing in Derbyshire.
Walton's section was a charming read, interspersed with poems and anecdotes. Cotton wrote for anglers, and since I am not an angler, I found it boring at times.

[Angie Thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried twice and just could not make it past the first chapter. Maybe the practical part is better, but the philosophical dialogue on which sport was the best was just--painful.

Falconer: "In praise of my sport, let me tell you how nothing can live without air and how many lovely songbirds exist in the world."
Hunter: "In praise of my sport, let me tell you about the amazing qualities of elephants."
Angler: "In praise of my sport, let me tell you not only how important water is but how without it, we would never be able to sail to wonderful places like Rome and the Holy Land. Also, have you heard of all the antiquities there?"
Hunter: "Your sport sounds fascinating. Tell me more."

I may be looking at this from the wrong angle, but fishing is wonderful because--Roman antiquities? Ummm...what?!? Also, once they get past the preliminary discussions of elements, this happens:

Angler: "Four of Jesus' twelve disciples were fisherman" (true), "and Jesus never rebuked them for their job like He did tax collectors" (which only proves that fishing isn't sinful?), "and this shows that the calling of a fisherman is particularly fitted to produce quiet, pious, thoughtful men." Ummm, you do realize you're speaking about Peter and the "sons of thunder" here?

I was definitely laughing, but not in a good way. Just couldn't keep it up.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good read, in a dialogue format, between Piscator, Venator, and Auceps, about fishing in particular, and life in general; as meandering as a quiet brook. While it is primarily about fishing, it also celebrates the English countryside and a quiet, peaceful pasttime that is also conducive to communing with God. The characteristics of different fish are examined in succesive chapters, although my favorite section was Part II which covers trout and fly-fishing. Not a complicated book, and one I enjoyed and looked upon as a respite from what I normally read. It re-energized me for fishing and to dig out my fly rod and flies.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a delightful read. I think I will have to write a proper review later but I highly recommend it.

Here is the full review https://spreadingthefeast102.wordpres...

[Gina Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

AmblesideOnline year 8 free read: I don’t know if it’s because we’re studying fish or if I just find all sorts of things interesting these days but I actually kind of liked this book! My husband was watching a fishing show the other day and it hit me, this book is just a fishing show from the 1600s!! Lol. They talk about how to catch different kinds of fish, how to cook them for the best taste, the best time of year to catch them, how to make bait, and so much more! Some of the “science” really made me laugh and some of it is still spot on.

[John Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the historic view of fishing way back when they were writing the King James Bible. I can't attest to its practicality, but philosophically it's great. All's well that ends well.

[Miles Row · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this more interesting than I expected as was just a random pick to read a classic. In some ways nature writing has not changed much in hundreds of years.

[Bob G · Rating 2 out of 5]

A practical guide to fishing, describing the fish, how to fish, how to prepare fish, how to tie flies, which baits work best, how to build a fish pond, … (Quite a bit of verse and moralizing also thrown in!)
The practical part was wrapped in a story of several men who chanced to meet. Most of the book involves the "master" teaching the art to the "scholar". The value of the book is historical (the description of the art). The book, though, is poorly written. Time seems to compress. Having just caught a fish: "Venator: ... let's go merrily to supper, and then have a gentle touch at singing and drinking; but the last with moderation. / Coridon: Come, now for your song; for we have fed heartily"

[Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not merely a quaint 17th-century handbook to fishing. It is an essay on the good life, a literary experiment, and a celebration of leisured fraternity, nature, and simple pleasures. Walton's genial wisdom can nourish even those of us who do not belong to the Brotherhood of the Angle. From the erudite alchemical controversy of its opening pages to the homely moralizing verse of its conclusion, The Compleat Angler delights and satisfies with fine prose and sound philosophy. "Be quiet; and go a-Angling."

[Lenny Husen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Classic for a reason. I read this because I wanted to read a book that Samuel Johnson read. The Compleat Angler is a How-To on Fishing written in England in the 17th Century, the first edition came out in 1653 and it has seldom if ever been out of print since that time.
People have always loved to fish and read books on the topic. This is packed with tips on when to look for various fish, tying flies, what bait to use and how to put the grub on the hook, which rivers to fish in, and in addition to the then-practical aspects on how to catch and cook a meal, is a paean in praise of the Piscatorian Life. The importance of relaxing, enjoying the countryside, having fun doing something kind of useful, sharing all that with a bro while having a brew.
Who might enjoy this book? Anyone who likes fishing, or reading about England hundreds of years ago, or classics that are quite easy to read and take only a modicum of concentration and very little determination.
This was a charming book, that even the "how to make an artificial fly out of a black cat's beard hairs and a grey feather of a Mallard" part was adorable.

[Fred Grogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Izaak Walton's 1653 treatise on fly fishing and the contemplative life.
This later edition contains other writings too, compiled by Walton, but not his.
The treatise is mainly a conversation between The Angler (Piscator) and The Huntsman (Venator), concerning which activity is the best to devote oneself to.
Spoiler: The book is not only about fishing, but about a way to live life simply while staying in touch with the natural world.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this 1653 book. Ostensibly a guide to angling, but actually like sitting with some old fella in a pub, while he smokes his pipe and shoots the breeze. It’s kind of a social document, and pretty idiosyncratic. It weaves all kinds of anecdotes and poetry and sayings into the narrative. It kind of takes you back there, to a long forgotten time. Down with Cromwell.

[Callum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comfy Anglo feels

[Bibliobites Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than I expected, and made me laugh in several places. Would like to buy an illustrated edition to own.

[Jakob Faarbæk Gregersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Virkelig god bog, som giver stor længsel efter fiskeri

[Spencer Lander · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like most of this books philosophy, but its pretty much covered in the first 40 odd pages. It's a pleasant book, but definitely not a page turner.

[Laura Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining treatise on man's favorite pastime. I thought I liked fishing well enough before beginning this book, but I found that I do in fact not appreciate it to the extent I should 😆

[Gunnar Lundberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most entertaining book on the virtues of anglers and characteristics of fish I’ve ever read!

[Jedermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Der Vollkommene Angler oder eines nachdenklichen Mannes Erholung“, das ist der Titel eines kleinen ca. 200 Seiten dicken Büchleins, welches in der Hosentasche eines Anglers Platz finden mag und ihn auf seinem Angelgang begleiten kann. Der Autor Izaak Walton veröffentlichte sein Buch im Jahr 1653 im Alter von 60 Jahren.
In Form von Dialogen lehrt Walton seine Leser die wichtigsten Dinge des Fischens – über die Lebensweise der Fische, die passenden Köderarten und anzuwendenden Angeltechniken. Auch wenn man ihm nachsagt, dass er vom Forellenfang nicht viel verstand – was er im übrigen auch selbst zugab – und einiges hierzu ohne Quellenangaben aus anderen Büchern anscheinend nicht richtig übernahm, sind seine profunden Ausführungen zum Grund- und Stippangeln überaus klar und auch heute noch gültig.
Aber der Angelbücher gibt es viele! Und ein Anfänger wird mit Sicherheit ein passendes modernes Werk zur Einführung finden. Denn, es ist nicht die profunde Fachkenntnis und Ausführung über das Angeln, welches das Buch Waltons so interessant macht. Es ist vor allem die Art und Weise in der er den Reiz und das Glück, welche er bei Ausübung seines Steckenpferds erfährt, beschreibt. Walton war ein begeisterter Hobbyangler. Wann immer es ihm möglich war, verließ er seine Eisenwarenhandlung im Zentrum Londons und verbrachte seine Zeit an den Ufern der Seen und Flüsse unweit seines Landguts in Stafford mit seiner Angel. So verging Jahrzehnt auf Jahrzehnt, bis der 90jährige Walton es für geraten hielt sein Testament zu machen. Er starb am 15. Dezember 1683.
Es ist das kurze Jahrzehnt der Republik in England – das Jahrzehnt in der Cromwell England regierte – in dem Waltons „Der Vollkommene Angler“ erschien. Und, wenn man vergisst die englischen Literaturepochen zu beachten, würde man das Buch in die Literatur der Romantik einordnen, die erst ca. 150 Jahre später entstand. So erging es mir jedenfalls beim Lesen. Die Erzählweise eines Eichendorffs kam mir sofort in Erinnerung.
Der Piscator – Waltons Hauptfigur im Vollkommenen Angler – verbringt mit seinem Schüler Anfang Mai fünf Tage an Fluss und See. Sie verleben fröhliche Stunden des Plauderns und Angelns an den Ufern. Unter Bäumen suchen sie Schutz vor Regen. Die Geißblatthecke hält die starke Sonnenstrahlung von ihnen fern. Sie treffen in reinlichen Wirtshäusern – Wirtshäusern mit gestärkter nach Lavendel duftender Bettwäsche – andere ihrer Zunft und essen, trinken und rezitieren, singen mit miteinander. Die Verse und Lieder preisen natürlicherweise die Angelkunst. „Das Lied des Anglers“ wurde in der Ausgabe von 1653 auf einer Doppelseite sehr praktisch abgedruckt, und zwar so, das eine Seite Noten und Text für die Oberstimme (cantus) zeigt und die andere um 180 Grad gedrehte Seite die Noten und den Text für die tiefe Gesangstimme (bassus). So konnten die Sänger an einem Tisch sitzen oder gegenüber stehen und gemeinsam zweistimmig das Lied vom Angler singen.
Die Gedichte und Lieder haben eines gemeinsam; sie loben das einfache Leben. Aus den Versen des Landmanns, des Bettelvolks oder der Melkerinnen strömt Zufriedenheit, Erfüllung und Wohlbefinden. Im letzten Gedicht, bevor sich Meister Piscator von seinem Schüler verabschiedet finden sich die folgenden Verszeilen:

Wollt' die Welt erwählen mich als Erben,
würd’ die Schönheit mich als schön umwerben,
sollt’ man Günstling mich des Glückes nennen,
ja, mit Engeln selbst wetteifern können,
schon mit einem Blick die Menschen zwingen
und Gerechtigkeit den Armen bringen,
brächt’ der Steine Grabschrift ich zum Tönen,
würden Dichter mich mit Reimen krönen,
könnt’ der Mächtigste ich sein auf Erden
und der Reichste, Schönste, Klügste werden,
wollt‘ das Schicksal alles dies mir schenken,
wies ich es zurücke ohn’ Bedenken.

Der vollkommene Angler erschien in deutscher Übersetzung erstmalig im Jahr 1859. Jedoch, ein Brand im Verlagshaus dezimierte die gedruckten Exemplare empfindlich. Diese sind daher Raritäten und werden zu hohen Preisen angeboten. Hundert Jahre später – 1958 – wurde das Buch in neuer deutscher Übersetzung verlegt und zwar zeitgleich in West (Paul Parey Verlag) und Ost (Gustav Kiepenheuer Verlag Weimar).
Das Buch ist ein Stück klassische Literatur und es ist ein Genuss darin zu lesen!

[Brady Rudh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I, too, am now a student of the angle. Thanks, Piscator!

[Jacob Hurley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Izaak Walton was some variant of man of letters, being a friend & biography of John Donne and an all-around enthusiast of poetry of his time (Cromwell-era). This book is a prose dialogue about the art of fishing, which begins with an excellent extended rhetorical showdown between a falconer, a hunter, and a fisher, each of whom present their arguments for the superiority of their art resulting from the cosmic nobility of its subject matter (air, land and sea), which the fisher easily wins in a series of theological and allusive rhapsodies. After that, he takes the hunter & teaches him to become a fisher, which amounts to an extended list of each fish, its biology and behavior, then the ideal means by which to catch it and then to cook it. The zoological sections make some interesting claims, with a repeated motif being the then-suspected ability for fish to transmute into dirt and back. While this book is extremely popular (apparently the most reprinted book in the anglophonic world after the Bible) as an instructional manual, Walton's tips for fishing are usually pretty superstitious or bizarre, such as common superstitions about casting shade on the water or disturbing fish by talking loudly, which seem to be naturally occurring insights to casual fishers. His suggested bait is often weird balls of bread-paste cooked in berry oil which I am unsure would do at great job catching fish. I am also unsure I need to be told in every chapter to gut it, descale if necessary, add butter/herbs/salt/anchovies, cook and eat.

Also appended is a sequel commissioned by a younger friend, Charles Cotton, to be written after Walton's death; he adds a pointless and stylistically dull intro about the beauty of English rivers before an extremely repetitive list of flies to employ for fly fishing, and then a boring list of baits useful for fishing deeper in the water. I wish my copy had been printed without it.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book, which I stumbled across via a reference made in Robert W. Chambers' novel "Cardigan" by the titular character. Walton's commentary throughout is quite entertaining, and the "fishing advice" in the book, while ostensibly the point of it, is almost incidental in my mind -- the collected verses, humor, and pleasant descriptions of pastoral English countryside were my main enjoyments. A very pleasant read.

[Maurice Halton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book for anglers; it’s a book for Englishmen. It should be subtitled 'how an English gentleman behaves - in metaphor’. A book about fishing? Come on! Whoever gave this classic less than five stars needs something.

[Matt · Rating 1 out of 5]

very tough boring read

[James Violand · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. A justification for doing nothing, although filled with descriptions of fishes and ways to catch them.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

very chill book, the best bits are all the neat little digression about things like the philosophy of angling, or pre science natural history stuff.

[John Rimmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this for many reasons, almost none of which have anything to do with fishing. For instance, Walton puts his lessons into parables, drawing the sweet wisdom out of the mundane tasks and occurrences. It reminds me of Jonathan Edwards' reflections on the natural world, how within all that God has made there are imprints of His nature and attributes.

Here's a reason that has to do with fishing, at least the occupation itself. Walton does a superb study of the biblical theology of the fisherman within one of his conversations. He begins by highlighting that 1/3 of Jesus' disciples were such. But then goes on to point out how in the uncertain early days after Jesus' resurrection all eleven of the remaining men took up the profession (John 21). This is a picture of the vision of Ezekiel 47:10, where fishermen stand on either side of the river of life, casting in their nets. As in The Compleat Angler, which begins with a hunter, a falconer, and an angler, Walton argues that there is a strange allure associated with the fishing man, as seen when his companions abandon their plans for hunting and falconing in order to learn more about fishing. And it isn't just fishing itself, but the whole experience. He points you to passage after passage that describes the righteous life as compared to or nurtured by being near flowing waters (Psalm 1, John 10, Jeremiah 2, etc.). Who has a better understanding of such a posture than that man that spends his time with a line cast out into such waters?

I think the reason which stands above the rest is one of atmosphere. This book has a certain donegality to it that immediately had me looking over my shoulder for my dear father John Bunyan, as if he should be here too, walking together with us as we go from the simple things to the divine in our conversation. It didn't surprise me to learn that this book was released two years before (1676) that book of books, The Pilgrim's Progress (1678). They are of the same spirit, the same country air, the same sort of folk, who I find myself at home most among.