THE COMPLETE ANGLER, Or The Contemplative Man's Recreation. With Lives of the Authors, and Variorum Notes, Historical and Practical. Edited by Edward Jesse, Esq. To Which Are Added Papers on Fishing-Tackle, Fishing Stations, Etc., by Henry G. Bohn

First edition thus, being the first by Henry Bohn and with various additions and illustrations. With over 200 woodcut illustrations throughout the text, as well as a fine portrait of Walton as frontispiece, decorated half-title and dedication, vignette title-page, etc. 8vo, in an attractive period binding by L. Broca of three-quarter red morocco over marbled boards, the corner-pieces and back lined in gilt, the spine with blind-ruled tall bands creating six compartments, five of which with central gilt tooled acorns, the remaining compartment gilt lettered, marbled endpapers, t.e.g. xix, 496, [1] pp. A very fresh and handsome copy, the binding in excellent state with only trivial signs of age, the text very clean, just a hint of toning or mellowing to the prelims.

Edizione: the first bohn edition of this beloved classic of the english language. bohn's edition included many valuable additions. there are lives of both walton and cotton, edward jesse's preface, commendatory verses, walton's will, nearly 40 pages of bohn's own notes on places to fish with an index of rivers, a use general index, a list of sources for fishing tackle, and hundreds of fine illustrations by numerous noted artists.<br> walton's angler has been described as "full of wisdom, kindly humour, and charity; it is one of the most delightful and care-dispelling books in the language." "more than most authors he lives in his writings, which are the pure expression of a kind, humorous and pious soul in love with nature, while the expression itself is unique for apparent simplicity which is really elaborately studied art" (dnb).<br> angler has also been called one of the first modern "how to" books, but is far more than a straightforward guide to fishing; for it celebrates the art of fishing with verses, songs, folklore, and timeless wisdom in its form of a dialogue between veteran angler and his student. it both informs and delights, and as charles lamb observed, "breathes the very spirit of innocence, purity, and simplicity of heart . it would sweeten a man's temper at any time to read it."