The Illustrated Salar the Salmon

by Henry Williamson, Mick Loates (Illustrator)

In Latin "salar" means "leaper" and to the Romans who first came to England the name perfectly described the magnificent sea-run salmon that fought their way up rivers and streams.In Henry Williamson's great nature story, Salar is a five-year-old salmon returning to the stream of his birth. He faces great dangers, cruising lampreys, poachers with their cruel nets and spears, sharp-eyed otters, cascading falls, all between Salar and his goal in the spawning sands. This is a book about life and death, and not just about a salmon, set in an intricate depiction of nature. This edition is beautifully illustrated by Mike Loates.

Genres: Nature, Fiction, Natural History, Animals, 20th Century, Classics

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1935

About the author

Henry William Williamson was an English soldier, naturalist, farmer and ruralist writer known for his natural history and social history novels, as well as for his fascist sympathies. He won the Hawthornden Prize for literature in 1928 with his book Tarka the Otter.

Henry Williamson is best known for a tetralogy of four novels which consists of The Beautiful Years (1921), Dandelion Days (1922), The Dream of Fair Women (1924) and The Pathway (1928). These novels are collectively known as The Flax of Dream and they follow the life of Willie Maddison from boyhood to adulthood in a rapidly changing world.

Reviews

[Deborah Pickstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely NOT a children's book, rather and everyone's book and far from simplistic. Williamson's voice can be a little dry at times but the stories are fascinating and I really found it riveting. The life of a salmon on the surface of it and the Meaning of Life, the Universe and Everything below that, along with a careful and intricate drawing of the natural world. Like his other animal stories, a classic and a jewel.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, Salar the Salmon is a beautifully written book. It is NOT a book for children, and it is NOT a book to rush through. It took me some time to read it considering its relatively short length. However, it wasn't for lack of interest. For me, it was not a "page-turner" and for that I am thankful. After each brief chapter, I just wanted to absorb the creative language with which it was so lovingly written. I am no literary scholar, nor am I that well-read, but to me this is prose that is also poetry.

This is a naturalistic novel about a fish name Salar making his last swim from the sea to the spawning grounds of the North Devon rivers. The book is almost entirely narrative; the only dialogue you'll encounter is that of the few human characters. The fish, insects, birds and mammals do not speak, although Mr. Williamson does give them names usually derived from their Latin or biological origins. You will truly learn what it is like to live as a fish, as the author has recreated a world about which he must have spent years observing and educating himself. So realistic, yet heartfelt, is his depiction of that world that you may even become a vegetarian in the process.

[Jed Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick of eye, yet deeply reflective, sinuous, yet taut, Williamson's prose reaches into every nook and cranny of sea and stream to capture the life aquatic for the reader whose attention is slowed to the pace of the seasons; pitched to the same linguistic density as TARKA THE OTTER, this novel is every bit as demanding and rewarding as its predecessor: a joyous, exuberant education in the wonders of the animate world that does not shy from violence and tragedy, this is an essential book for anyone interested in looking beyond the human.

[Lone Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows the titular fish’s journey upstream from the sea, in order to spawn. During his travels he encounters the kinds of perils you might expect – seals, otters, humans, lampreys and the like. A few characters from the author’s previous book, ‘Tarka the Otter’, make an appearance, such as Jarrk the seal and Garbargee the conger eel, and there’s also a brief cameo from a daughter of Tarka.

As with ‘Tarka’, the book is rather heavy on description and low on plot, with most of the text being descriptive passages which, whilst very detailed, tell you little about what Salar is actually doing. That said, a fish is an unusual protagonist and exploring the life-cycle of salmon makes an interesting read.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful book although I found it pretty slow to read. Much like Tarka the Otter, Williamson is extremely detail oriented about the life of his subject and its environs. The surprising thing is how sympathetic one can feel toward a salmon.

[Róisín Prendergast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a unique and beautiful book - stunning and poetic language, so descriptive - really quite a feat! Lots of the moon and the sun, the seasons, birds and baby otters, troops of ducks and seals. Salmon, trout, lamprey, eels, the fox, horses, the heron - all characterised, and their habits and quirks revealed. So many gorgeous and heart-rending moments, and really all so spiritual. Henry Williamson clearly connected to nature on a very special level. It made me hungry for the outdoors. It took me a while to get through this book, simply because of the amount of detail (so detailed - hard work sometimes), and I did not want to miss any of it by lightly reading. But, I have learned so much!
I have to say I never had a particular interest in aquatic life before, and this book has opened up a whole new world. Basically, I am now obsessed with fish! It's an extremely educational and enlightening story in terms of river and sea life - the natural world in general - and I have a newfound appreciation and awe for it.
The story follows Salar the salmon, as he travels from the sea back up river, to where he hopes to continue the cycle again. Along the way we witness his struggles and his battles, his joys and triumphs. It's one hell of a journey. I was as worn out as Salar when I'd done some lengthy reading. I never considered fish as emotional creatures, and it's true Williamson does lend some personification for the sake of the story, but I became so immersed in Salar's life and genuinely empathetic towards his highs and lows. There were lots of disturbing and uncomfortable moments - some that were more digestible due to being natural and the way of water-life (attacks and fighting, escaping/not escaping from predators) - and some that were really just so sad (descriptions of what the fish goes through when being fished). I felt as panicky and scared as Salar a lot of the time. Have to admit some of it also repulsed me - fungal disease and sea-lice, fish eating fish and one another's eggs. But what an insight! Near the end there is also a great description of a particular spawning scenario which is quite heart-warming and funny in parts.
Overall, a tremendous book and Henry Williamson was a very clever man.

[Sophy H · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were parts of this story that were beautiful and poetic but overall it was too depressing and violent to be enjoying.

I also think that the fact Williamson was a nature writer almost got in the way of his storytelling. He let his anatomical and biological knowledge bleed into his writing in rather a strange way. If you read for example "David was breathing heavily, with his lungs which could inspire oxygen and expel carbon dioxide at a rate of 18 breaths per minute", it would sound weird because it's too much technical information. Williamson's writing suffers from this problem and it detracts from the story.

Overall ok but just ok.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sick. It’s a book about a fucking fish. And it’s sick. Incredible understanding of ecology and nature threaded together with genuine storytelling and some really poetic phrases. He somehow manages to give personality and character to FISH. I used to think they sit there and breathe and die. But he also has them responding to stimuli in a logical way, experiencing something akin to joy, and something akin to depression. I don’t think he is far off from describing biological realities here. And details like churning water being highly oxygenated and thus full of life and energizing to fish…so good. This dude’s a genius

[Zach]

The poetic prose of Salar, the Salmon makes this fascinating tale layered with beauty and insight. While avoiding being cutesy or childish, Henry Williamson allows the reader to find illuminating connections Salar's life and their own.


Here's a favorite passage:


Salar was not feeding, he was not hungry; but he was enjoying remembrance of this river-life with awareness of an unknown great excitement before him. He was living by the spirit of running water. Indeed, Salar's life was now the river: as he explored it higher, so would he discover his life. (page 115).

[Erik Empson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book from a crate I rescued from being thrown away. It only occurred to me some time after starting that this book must have been written by the same author as Tarka the Otter. Actually when said mammal made an appearance in the book.
This is a wonderful tome, informative and dramatic, that opens your eyes and makes you wonder. The rivers and the sea are a veritable war zone. The way the author shifts seamlessly from scene to scene in one long camera take is extraordinary - the literary equivalent of Russian Ark. Good healthy fun.

[PAUL DEWSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

Salar the salmon combines to the full Henry Williamson's keen observation as a naturalist and his skill as a writer, to produce a truly wonderful book. Written in a poetic style he captures perfectly the life, death and rebirth of the natural world. A perfect compliment to his more well known Tarka the otter.

[Claire Q · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - engaging and charming, but also surprisingly emotional and sad. Books in this style aren't written anymore, which is a shame.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lest you think by the title that this is a children's book, think again. It chronicles the life and death of a salmon returning his spawning river. This is a book about life and death, and not just of salmon, set in an intricate depiction of nature. This edition is beautifully illustrated.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous! Especially if you spend any time on a salmon river......

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read about the life of an Atlantic salmon.

[cardulelia carduelis]

This has not been a great start to the year. So far, in 2019, I've attempted 4 books: two I completed but were a 2 and 3 star and 2 I've now discarded. And, unfortunately, it is to this pile that dear Salar the Salmon belongs.

I bought this book, somewhat because of nostalgia. I really loved Tarka the Otter as a kid. I remember it was a bit of a slog and it took me a few tries but goodness I was 8 years old! Of course it was hard. Turns out, that youngster was onto something as this, my second Williamson, was a trial as well.
Look, the book's beautiful inside and out: beautiful ink drawings fill the volume, the typsetting is clear, the paper is creamy. The writing is very nice.
But ultimately, no matter how you dress it up with nice writing and exciting predators, the life of a salmon is just not that interesting.
I made it 100 pages in and just wanted to be doing anything other than reading the next 100. So I'm giving up. 8 year-old me is definitely unimpressed with my lack of tenacity. 28 year-old me is over it.
DNF'd at page 102.