‘It would sweeten a man’s temper at any time to learn it,’ published essayist Charles Lamb some years following this novel was initially published in 1653. Of course, The Compleat Angler is much more than just a 17th century ‘how-to’ guidebook to catching and cooking fish. So disarming is Mr. Walton’s peaceful enthusiasm for the countryside and all of the different delights that it contains that, even though you do not have nor ever will pick up a fly rod, you will benefit from a little time spent in the genial business of the author and his close friends.