I can honestly say that when I was given this book to review I was, at first, at a bit of a loss as to what to make of it. Why? Well, the book is somewhat unusual in that it really isn’t a run of the mill angling book.
To start with it’s a beautiful thing to look at, as one might expect with the production values that Steve Harper of Harper Fine Angling Books has become known for. There are line drawings by the author on just about every page and a wonderful painted front cover and line drawn rear cover to boot. So going by the old adage of never judging a book by its cover what then of the written content?
Here I was truly surprised as I can honestly say that it was a pleasure to read from start to finish. As I mentioned at the start it’s a bit of a departure from your average angling book in that it sets out to teach you nothing, but rather to entertain and to re-awaken those memories of times gone by, those times when we were all probably more enthusiastic, more naive and certainly more innocent – the days of our youth in essence, when every water contained an uncaught monster.
Days gone by maybe but the quality of the writing is right up there with modern greats such as the likes of Chris Yates, such is the way that Paul paints the picture of ‘Old School’ the estate lake that the book is based around.
I appreciate that this book will not be to everyone’s taste but I have to say I really loved it. The writing is up there with the very best, it is lovely to look at and it makes a real change to read a book that is about the actual reasons and desires that make us want to pick up a rod in the first place.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Cost of the book is £30 plus postage and packing and it can be ordered direct from Harper Fine Angling Books
