Sportsman's Legacy

by William G. Tapply, Mike Tapply (Introduction)

First published in 1993, SPORTSMAN'S LEGACY was the a story of a remarkable relationship between father and son. It could have been the tale of any father and son whose lifelong bond was forged in the outdoors, except that the father was H.G. "Tap" Tapply, who for half a century stood tall among the giants of a generation of beloved sporting writers, including Lee Wulff, Burton Spiller, Ted Trueblood, and others. The son, author William G. Tapply, was revered in his own right as the author of more than 30 mystery novels, including 25 Brady Coyne novels, a dozen outdoor books, and hundreds of articles. This expanded edition includes all of the original book's material, plus more than 60 new photographs; introductions by Bill's son, Mike, and Bill's wife, Vicki; a dialogue between Bill and Philip R. Craig, his co-author on three novels and the author of the J.W. Jackson mysteries; a chapter on tying Tap's Nearenuf fly, and more. This edition expands on the original themes of cherishing nature's fragile mysteries, of loving her wild creatures, and of how an indelible bond formed between father and son can spark a deep and profound love of family and friends. William G. Tapply was the author of more than four dozen books and over 600 magazine articles. He wrote thirty-one New England-based novels, including OUTWITTING TROLLS, BITCH CREEK, and THIRD STRIKE, the latter co-written with Phillip R. Criag. Tapply's handbook, THE ELEMENTS OF MYSTERY FICTION: WRITING A MODERN WHODUNIT, continues to be used in writing classes and workshops across the country. He has also published more than a dozen books on fly fishing and the outdoors, most recently EVERY DAY WAS SPECIAL. He was a Contributing Editor for FIELD & STREAM and UPLAND ALMANAC and a columnist for AMERICAN ANGLER. His articles, stories and essays on writing, fishing, gardening, education and other subjects appeared in dozens of national publications. He was a professor of English at Clark University in Worcester, where he taught writing for fifteen years and was the Writer in Residence. He and his wife, novelist Vicki Stiefel, ran The Writers Studio at Chickadee Farm. Tapply lived and wrote in Hancock, New Hampshire, until his death in 2009. Visitors are still welcome at his website: www.williamgtapply.com.

Genres: Outdoors

228 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

About the author

William G. Tapply (1940–2009) was an American author best known for writing legal thrillers. A lifelong New Englander, he graduated from Amherst and Harvard before going on to teach social studies at Lexington High School. He published his first novel, Death at Charity’s Point, in 1984. A story of death and betrayal among Boston Brahmins, it introduced crusading lawyer Brady Coyne, a fishing enthusiast whom Tapply would follow through twenty-five more novels, including Follow the Sharks, The Vulgar Boatman, and the posthumously published Outwitting Trolls.

Besides writing regular columns for Field and Stream, Gray’s Sporting Journal, and American Angler, Tapply wrote numerous books on fishing, hunting, and life in the outdoors. He was also the author of The Elements of Mystery Fiction, a writer’s guide. He died in 2009, at his home in Hancock, New Hampshire.

Reviews

[Andrew Wayment]

Approximately, eight years ago, I first stumbled across William G. Tapply's, A Sportsmen's Legacy, at my local library. From the cover, I could tell it was a memoire of a father and a son who spent time together in the outdoors. At the time, this seemed like the kind of book I'd be interested in as my own father fostered my love of hunting and fishing and I am trying to instill this love in my own children. So the theme alone piqued my interest.

To my surprise, this book opened up for me a whole new world of outdoor writers from the very golden age of outdoor literature including, Burton Spiller, Corey Ford, and Gorham Cross ("Grandpa Grouse"), and the author's own father, Horace G. Tapply (or just "Tap" to his friends), who was the editor of Field & Stream magazine. Save Tap only, most of these men had already passed away before I was even born. When he was young, Bill, along with his father, spent days many afield and on stream with these giants. In fact, Put Putnam nicknamed Bill, "Harm," and jokingly suggested that they keep their fishing tackle "out of Harm's Way." For me, Bill Tapply was a living link to these men and his book caused me to search out and rediscover their writings, which is a tremendous legacy for us all.

In the introduction to this new edition of the book, Bill's son, Mike concludes by saying, "I hope fathers and sons and daughters alike enjoy these stories, and every so often, pick up on something between the lines." For me, this simple statement captures the essence of this book. While the book has some great history and stories, the real legacy is the bond between a dad and a son, which was cemented by their partnership in the outdoors. Bill Tapply relates that Tap Tapply lost his own father during World War I. As a result of his loss and hard childhood, Tap developed the belief that life was "stern and earnest." Notwithstanding this somewhat pessimistic take on life, Tap seemed to focus on the things that mattered most to him, which were first and foremost his family and his love of the outdoors. While Tap hunted and fish with the greats of his time, his favorite outdoor companion of all was his son, Bill. Together they embarked on little adventures, which they called "Ex-plores and Expotitions" (terms they gleaned from, Winnie the Pooh). This book is full of stories that any father and son who love the outdoors will enjoy. The new chapters in this edition are definitely a good addition to the book. Also, this edition is packed with new photography that help bring to life Bill's great stories.

Now that both Bill and Tap have departed this earthly existence, this book is a great tribute to their individual lives and also to the outdoor traditions that we treasure, which are all definitely a legacy to remember. I'm happy to have this book as part of my library and have no problem recommending it to others.