The Incomplete Anglers

by John D. Robins

John Robins was an English professor at the University of Toronto who loved Algonquin Park and loved to fish. The idea for writing this humorous, semi-fictional story of a Park fishing trip developed while Dr. Robin and his brother Tom were stranded on an island in Dickson lake for three whole days due to high winds. They began to recall the other fishing trips that they had taken in previous years, and to recount the amusing and tragic experiences that had occurred. Dr. Robins had a notebook in his pack, and the rough notes he made therein became the basis for this book.

The book was originally published in 1943. Although largely forgotten, it was a runaway best-seller, and won a Governor General's literary award. This Canadian classic found its way under thousands of Christmas trees and warmed the war-weary hearts of a whole country.

Genres: Nonfiction

229 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1943

About the author

Born September 8, 1884, near Windsor, Ontario, John D. Robins was educated at Albert College in Belleville, Ontario. He attended Victoria College, University of Toronto (B.A., 1913; M.A., 1922), and the Universities of Freiburg and Marburg (1914), before becoming instructor in German at Victoria College in 1914. Robins took a leave of absence from 1916 to 1918. He enlisted May 25, 1916, and was discharged December 31, 1918. His rank was Sergeant, Musketry Staff, and then Company Sergeant Major, and he taught musketry at Camp Bordon, Toronto, and Halifax. After the war, he returned to Victoria College as a lecturer in German from 1919 to 1925, and then as Associate Professor of English from 1925 to 1933. He had obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1927 and became a full Professor in 1933 and served as head of English at Victoria College from 1937 to his death. For a time beginning in 1945, he was College Librarian. His academic fields included Chaucer, Old and Middle English philology, and popular literature, especially folklore and the ballad. Robins and Leila Isabel Douglas married at Strathroy, Ontario, in 1917. They had one adopted son, Peter Donald. In 1943 John Robins published The Incomplete Anglers and won the Governor General's Award for non-fiction. He went on to edit A Pocketful of Canada (1946) and to write Cottage Cheese (1951) and co-edit, with Margaret V. Ray, A Book of Canadian Humour (Toronto, 1951). Edith Fowke edited his Logging with Paul Bunyan and brought it out in 1957 and again in 1982. His recreations included fishing and the Arts and Letters Club. He lived at 257 Ellis Ave. in Swansea and died, still serving the Department, on December 18, 1952.

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A semi-fictional memoir of a 2-week canoe camping trip in the north land's bush country back in the 1940's. Witty, well written, and filled with self-deprecating humor --coupled with a touch of gentle curmudgeonly sarcasm. This simply was a delightful read.

Each page contains some gems, as well as some audible chuckles. The charming wood cut illustrations contribute to the vintage appeal of this wonderful little book.