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Hemingway on Fishing
The first and only collection of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s writings on America's great passion—fishing—introduced and edited by Nick Lyons with a foreword by Jack Hemingway.
From childhood on, Ernest Hemingway was a passionate fisherman. He fished the lakes and creeks near the family’s summer home at Walloon Lake, Michigan, and his first stories and pieces of journalism were often about his favorite sport. Here, collected for the first time in one volume, are all of his great writings about the many kinds of fishing he did—from angling for trout in the rivers of northern Michigan to fishing for marlin in the Gulf Stream.
In A Moveable Feast , Hemingway speaks of sitting in a café in Paris and writing about what he knew best—and when it came time to stop, he “did not want to leave the river.” The story was the unforgettable classic, “Big Two-Hearted River,” and from its first words we do not want to leave the river either. He also wrote articles for the Toronto Star on fishing in Canada and Europe and, later, articles for Esquire about his growing passion for big-game fishing. His last books, The Old Man and the Sea and Islands in the Stream , celebrate his vast knowledge of the ocean and his affection for its great denizens.
Hemingway on Fishing is an encompassing, diverse, and fascinating collection. From the early Nick Adams stories and the memorable chapters on fishing the Irati River in The Sun Also Rises to such late novels as Islands in the Stream , this collection traces the evolution of a great writer's passion; the range of his interests; the sure use he made of fishing, transforming it into the stuff of great literature.
Anglers and lovers of great writing alike will welcome this important collection.
From childhood on, Ernest Hemingway was a passionate fisherman. He fished the lakes and creeks near the family’s summer home at Walloon Lake, Michigan, and his first stories and pieces of journalism were often about his favorite sport. Here, collected for the first time in one volume, are all of his great writings about the many kinds of fishing he did—from angling for trout in the rivers of northern Michigan to fishing for marlin in the Gulf Stream.
In A Moveable Feast , Hemingway speaks of sitting in a café in Paris and writing about what he knew best—and when it came time to stop, he “did not want to leave the river.” The story was the unforgettable classic, “Big Two-Hearted River,” and from its first words we do not want to leave the river either. He also wrote articles for the Toronto Star on fishing in Canada and Europe and, later, articles for Esquire about his growing passion for big-game fishing. His last books, The Old Man and the Sea and Islands in the Stream , celebrate his vast knowledge of the ocean and his affection for its great denizens.
Hemingway on Fishing is an encompassing, diverse, and fascinating collection. From the early Nick Adams stories and the memorable chapters on fishing the Irati River in The Sun Also Rises to such late novels as Islands in the Stream , this collection traces the evolution of a great writer's passion; the range of his interests; the sure use he made of fishing, transforming it into the stuff of great literature.
Anglers and lovers of great writing alike will welcome this important collection.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
67 people are currently reading
702 people want to read
About the author
Ernest Hemingway
2,182 books32.3k followersErnest Miller Hemingway was an American novelist, short-story writer and journalist. Best known for an economical, understated style that significantly influenced later 20th-century writers, he is often romanticized for his adventurous lifestyle, and outspoken and blunt public image. Most of Hemingway's works were published between the mid-1920s and mid-1950s, including seven novels, six short-story collections and two non-fiction works. His writings have become classics of American literature; he was awarded the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature, while three of his novels, four short-story collections and three nonfiction works were published posthumously.
Hemingway was raised in Oak Park, Illinois. After high school, he spent six months as a cub reporter for The Kansas City Star before enlisting in the Red Cross. He served as an ambulance driver on the Italian Front in World War I and was seriously wounded in 1918. His wartime experiences formed the basis for his 1929 novel A Farewell to Arms. He married Hadley Richardson in 1921, the first of four wives. They moved to Paris where he worked as a foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star and fell under the influence of the modernist writers and artists of the 1920s' "Lost Generation" expatriate community. His debut novel The Sun Also Rises was published in 1926.
He divorced Richardson in 1927 and married Pauline Pfeiffer. They divorced after he returned from the Spanish Civil War, where he had worked as a journalist and which formed the basis for his 1940 novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. Martha Gellhorn became his third wife in 1940. He and Gellhorn separated after he met Mary Welsh Hemingway in London during World War II. Hemingway was present with Allied troops as a journalist at the Normandy landings and the liberation of Paris. He maintained permanent residences in Key West, Florida, in the 1930s and in Cuba in the 1940s and 1950s. On a 1954 trip to Africa, he was seriously injured in two plane accidents on successive days, leaving him in pain and ill health for much of the rest of his life. In 1959, he bought a house in Ketchum, Idaho, where, on July 2, 1961 (a couple weeks before his 62nd birthday), he killed himself using one of his shotguns.
Hemingway was raised in Oak Park, Illinois. After high school, he spent six months as a cub reporter for The Kansas City Star before enlisting in the Red Cross. He served as an ambulance driver on the Italian Front in World War I and was seriously wounded in 1918. His wartime experiences formed the basis for his 1929 novel A Farewell to Arms. He married Hadley Richardson in 1921, the first of four wives. They moved to Paris where he worked as a foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star and fell under the influence of the modernist writers and artists of the 1920s' "Lost Generation" expatriate community. His debut novel The Sun Also Rises was published in 1926.
He divorced Richardson in 1927 and married Pauline Pfeiffer. They divorced after he returned from the Spanish Civil War, where he had worked as a journalist and which formed the basis for his 1940 novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. Martha Gellhorn became his third wife in 1940. He and Gellhorn separated after he met Mary Welsh Hemingway in London during World War II. Hemingway was present with Allied troops as a journalist at the Normandy landings and the liberation of Paris. He maintained permanent residences in Key West, Florida, in the 1930s and in Cuba in the 1940s and 1950s. On a 1954 trip to Africa, he was seriously injured in two plane accidents on successive days, leaving him in pain and ill health for much of the rest of his life. In 1959, he bought a house in Ketchum, Idaho, where, on July 2, 1961 (a couple weeks before his 62nd birthday), he killed himself using one of his shotguns.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 27, 2014
Even for a Hemingway fanatic like myself who already has the primary sources, this anthology collection of stories, articles and novel excerpts was an enjoyable read.
It places the writing in roughly chronological order with the fishing sketches from the late Paris memoir "A Moveable Feast" becoming part of the first section with the short stories written during the early Paris years that relate to fresh water fishing. The Star & Esquire newspaper and magazine articles in the middle provide a transition from rivers & lakes to deep-sea fishing. The 3rd and final part provides excerpts from the late novels including The Garden of Eden, Islands in the Stream and The Old Man and the Sea.
There are many reasons to enjoy this collection as separate works from the source material. The masterpiece 2-part short story "Big Two-Hearted River" is a pleasure to read at any time. Being able to read the Irati River passage excerpted from "The Sun Also Rises" emphasizes its joyous nature even more than when it is the respite in the middle of the love & death dance of the novel. Having the several-hour struggle by middle son "David" (a roman-a-clef stand-in for real son Patrick) with a gigantic marlin excerpted from "Islands in the Stream" rescues the best passage of that otherwise relatively weak novel. 32 pages of photographs greatly add to the atmosphere.
Sadly, in what is packaged as a deluxe edition, there were still typos in something as often printed as "The Old Man and the Sea" e.g. <"Come on, fish," he sid. But the fish did not come.> on page 234. So points off for that.
It places the writing in roughly chronological order with the fishing sketches from the late Paris memoir "A Moveable Feast" becoming part of the first section with the short stories written during the early Paris years that relate to fresh water fishing. The Star & Esquire newspaper and magazine articles in the middle provide a transition from rivers & lakes to deep-sea fishing. The 3rd and final part provides excerpts from the late novels including The Garden of Eden, Islands in the Stream and The Old Man and the Sea.
There are many reasons to enjoy this collection as separate works from the source material. The masterpiece 2-part short story "Big Two-Hearted River" is a pleasure to read at any time. Being able to read the Irati River passage excerpted from "The Sun Also Rises" emphasizes its joyous nature even more than when it is the respite in the middle of the love & death dance of the novel. Having the several-hour struggle by middle son "David" (a roman-a-clef stand-in for real son Patrick) with a gigantic marlin excerpted from "Islands in the Stream" rescues the best passage of that otherwise relatively weak novel. 32 pages of photographs greatly add to the atmosphere.
Sadly, in what is packaged as a deluxe edition, there were still typos in something as often printed as "The Old Man and the Sea" e.g. <"Come on, fish," he sid. But the fish did not come.> on page 234. So points off for that.
November 28, 2018
Enjoyed the book although I found it to be a bit challenging at times. The book has three parts and different stories make up each part. Some stories have a more natural flow into the next and others are quite different. All in all, if you enjoy fishing, the stories are a great read.
August 6, 2025
As a fisherman myself, it’s always interesting for me to read about the tackle and methods of fishing 100 years ago. As a Michigander, I especially enjoyed the stories about fishing the rivers here up north. I noticed that his early writings as a young adult play up the prowess of his fishermen and their big hauls. Then as an older adult, his stories are mostly about the struggles of fighting and losing fish. It’s noticeable when all of his fishing stories are compiled chronologically in one book like this. Obviously, he is a legendary writer, but I can’t really give it five stars when it’s simply excerpts of previously published material.
July 12, 2021
Stating the obvious here, but if you like fishing and Hemingway then you’ll enjoy these excerpts from his stories that touch on that subject. Many feature magazine and newspaper articles he wrote are included as well, and these I found to be the best of all. I’m now ready to go fishing for tuna off the coast Vigo, Spain, for trout throughout Germany and Switzerland, and for marlin in the Gulf Stream off Cuba. Really great stories that place you in the center of the action, the gift he is always able to give the reader.
July 30, 2021
I was a fan of part 2 the most, if the whole book was just like letters and newspaper articles about fishing i woulda given it 5 stars. Some of the short stories in part 1 fell flat for me and part 3 had stuff I had already read. Will be adding Islands in the Stream to my tbr though.
July 11, 2023
Masse fint om fisking. Blir ny fiskestang no :))
April 9, 2025
started reading after i went trout fishing.
January 17, 2011
I've read most of the fictional short stories in this collection -- the Nick Adams stories, for example, but it is fascinating to read the non-fiction -- journalistic writings where Hemingway's obsession with fishing -- first trout, then deep-sea fishing -- becomes apparent. I've always loved Hemingway's sparse, iceberg writing style. So many readers get hung up on the machismo image and bravado of Hemingway's personal life that they can't appreciate what a great writer he is. We can't ignore one of the major stylists of the 20th century because we disagree with his politics and prejudices!
Want to read
August 20, 2012ok
June 18, 2023
I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
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Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/boats-for-sale/
https://numberoneboats.com/boats-for-...
https://theboatyacht.com/yachts-for-s...
https://numberoneboats.com/yachts-for...
July 15, 2017
Well, when I decided I wanted to read this book, I assumed it was a nonfiction book ABOUT fishing BY Hemingway. As I think Hemingway's nonfiction is debatably more fun to read than alot of his fiction, that sounded interesting; I was a little disappointed, when I started reading, to find that it was an anthology of writings by him that mention fishing. However, as the misunderstanding is entirely mine, and it's hardly the editors' fault that Hemingway never actually wrote that other book, it's hardly worth a star deduction. After all, the product they put out instead is still a whole lot of damn fun. The first part, consisting of short stories and excerpts, is okay if not perfect (way too many Nick Adams stories right in a row for my taste, and some of the stories seem to have been included simply because at some point a character mentions fishing or thinks about fishing or happens to be in the middle of fishing at some brief point in the course of a story that's actually about something completely unrelated), but the second part, consisting of magazine articles, MAKES the book: unless it turns out Hemingway's estate's been holding out on us, it's the closest I'm going to get to that Hemingway version of 'The Compleat Angler' I was talking about (and, unlike the short stories, isn't already published in fifty other readily-available collections). It's Hemingway at his gritty, snarky, grumpy, conversational, avuncular, funny storytelling best, and more personal than most of his fiction because we know that the first-person narrator is HIM, and not some character whose exact autobiographical status is open for debate. The rest of the book consists of longer excerpts that are well worth it. I remembered the fishing trip in 'Islands in the Stream' being good, but I'd forgotten HOW good; and, as far as I'm concerned, they could have just reprinted all of the goddamn 'Old Man and the Sea.' If you go in knowing what you're getting into, and you like Hemingway, then go right ahead: enjoy. And let me know if you get the same weird cravings for trout I've been dealing with.
November 11, 2024
It was Ok. I'm not sure what I was searching for trying this out. But I didn't connect much with the stories as excerpts and didn't find an overall deeper vibe beyond just some stories about fishing. I don't think that's a Hemingway problem, so much as a me looking for something deeper that this was never trying to be.
July 8, 2019
Finished.
Hemingway on Fishing. Enough said. LOL
My favorite selections - obviously: Big Two-Hearted River, and excerpts from Islands in the Stream and The Old Man and the Sea.
So good. If I could converse with my dead literary heroes, Papa would be on the short list.
Hemingway on Fishing. Enough said. LOL
My favorite selections - obviously: Big Two-Hearted River, and excerpts from Islands in the Stream and The Old Man and the Sea.
So good. If I could converse with my dead literary heroes, Papa would be on the short list.
February 25, 2018
Hemingway becomes less enjoyable to me as I age...
July 18, 2019
Some of the stories, especially the Big Two Hearted Stories were just beautiful. Some of the billfishing stories and novel excerpts struck me as being too macho.
October 10, 2020
Got old after a while
May 26, 2021
Love reading Hemingway. The way he writes about fishing makes you feel as though you are in the boat as well
May 9, 2022
What can I say. Hemingway writes beautifully and one of his passions was fishing . Whether in the streams in Michigan, Spain or Idaho. And then there are the Marlin fishing episodes.
April 21, 2024
The magazine articles are best. I was hoping for more tales of Hemingways trips. Instead more of a compilation of the fishing scenes he’s written.
(Saw at Hemingway museum)
(Saw at Hemingway museum)
September 7, 2024
“It is enough to live on the sea and kill our true brothers.”
October 27, 2025
Excerpts of Hemingway's works that were all about fishing and being on or near the water. Good choices of edit.
November 4, 2014
From stories of young Nick Adams fishing the rivers of Michigan to a novella about an old fisherman named Santiago fighting off the sharks in an attempt to save his catch, fishing permeates Ernest Hemingway’s writing. In “Big Two Hearted River,” Nick fished near a logged over forest and a burned town, and the narrative established Hemingway’s career as a master of the short story. In The Old Man and the Sea, he revealed the depth of his craft and received a Pulitzer Prize and a Nobel Prize as stamps of approval from the larger society.
The posthumous book Hemingway on Fishing is a collection of some of his best writing on the subject. It includes short stories, journalistic pieces, and excerpts from books. The forward by Jack Hemingway, author of The Misadventures of a Fly Fisherman, reveals a love of fishing shared by father and son. The introduction by Nick Lyons, who edited the volume, gives a more detailed account of fishing as intertwined in Hemingway’s life, his writing, and even his relationship with his family.
The first section of the book is all about fresh water. It begins with four short stories about trout fishing, including the iconic “Big Two Hearted River,” which is, on the surface, just about fishing. The logged woods and burned town suggest deeper issues in the protagonist’s psyche.
Another short work, “Now I Lay Me,” is about a man in a hospital, or possibly a prison, who avoids sleep, and perhaps the accompanying dreams, by consciously remembering every stream he has ever fished. The story hints at Hemingway’s lifelong may have been inspired by knowledge of Jack Hemingway’s own experience as a Prisoner of War, waiting to be liberated by allied forces as they moved through Nazi Germany.
Most notable of the book excerpts is one from The Sun Also Rises, in which the tragic hero gets a respite from the drama of Lady Brit and his other friends by fishing for trout in Spain. The editor also included book excerpts drawn from A Movable Fest and The Green Hills of Africa.
The center section reveals the lesser known Hemingway, the journalist who wrote feature articles for periodicals ranging from the Toronto Star to Vogue, Esquire, and Look. The articles report on opportunities and reveal the finer points of fishing for trout in Wyoming, Canada, and various European locations. Articles devoted to salt water fishing report on tuna fishing off Spain, and marlin fishing in the Gulf Stream, and off the coast of Peru. The story “On the Blue Water: A Gulf Stream Letter,” includes a report of fishermen who rescued an old man in a skiff far from land with the head and front part of a great marlin lashed to his skiff. The remains of the catch weighed 800 pounds. This gem surely inspired his prize winning novella, The Old Man and the Sea.
Section three includes salt water fishing battles of epic proportion excerpted from The Garden of Eden, Islands in the Stream, and The Old Man and the Sea. The first two are drawn from posthumous works, edited and prepared for publication by members of Hemingway’s family.
The fisherman in Islands in the Stream is a boy on the verge of manhood, obviously modeled after one of Hemingway’s own sons. In fact, the cast of characters is drawn from the family and the fishing friends of Hemingway’s days in Havana.
These stories remind us of heroic struggles fought well and fought hard. Some end in victories while others conclude with great loss. All of us have of course experienced victories and losses. We fight and endure as we celebrate victories and recover from defeats. We hope to rise victorious like the Phoenix, above our circumstances. The nonfiction works are strictly about fishing, but in the end, the fictional works are not so much about fishing as they are about struggle and the triumph of the human spirit.
The posthumous book Hemingway on Fishing is a collection of some of his best writing on the subject. It includes short stories, journalistic pieces, and excerpts from books. The forward by Jack Hemingway, author of The Misadventures of a Fly Fisherman, reveals a love of fishing shared by father and son. The introduction by Nick Lyons, who edited the volume, gives a more detailed account of fishing as intertwined in Hemingway’s life, his writing, and even his relationship with his family.
The first section of the book is all about fresh water. It begins with four short stories about trout fishing, including the iconic “Big Two Hearted River,” which is, on the surface, just about fishing. The logged woods and burned town suggest deeper issues in the protagonist’s psyche.
Another short work, “Now I Lay Me,” is about a man in a hospital, or possibly a prison, who avoids sleep, and perhaps the accompanying dreams, by consciously remembering every stream he has ever fished. The story hints at Hemingway’s lifelong may have been inspired by knowledge of Jack Hemingway’s own experience as a Prisoner of War, waiting to be liberated by allied forces as they moved through Nazi Germany.
Most notable of the book excerpts is one from The Sun Also Rises, in which the tragic hero gets a respite from the drama of Lady Brit and his other friends by fishing for trout in Spain. The editor also included book excerpts drawn from A Movable Fest and The Green Hills of Africa.
The center section reveals the lesser known Hemingway, the journalist who wrote feature articles for periodicals ranging from the Toronto Star to Vogue, Esquire, and Look. The articles report on opportunities and reveal the finer points of fishing for trout in Wyoming, Canada, and various European locations. Articles devoted to salt water fishing report on tuna fishing off Spain, and marlin fishing in the Gulf Stream, and off the coast of Peru. The story “On the Blue Water: A Gulf Stream Letter,” includes a report of fishermen who rescued an old man in a skiff far from land with the head and front part of a great marlin lashed to his skiff. The remains of the catch weighed 800 pounds. This gem surely inspired his prize winning novella, The Old Man and the Sea.
Section three includes salt water fishing battles of epic proportion excerpted from The Garden of Eden, Islands in the Stream, and The Old Man and the Sea. The first two are drawn from posthumous works, edited and prepared for publication by members of Hemingway’s family.
The fisherman in Islands in the Stream is a boy on the verge of manhood, obviously modeled after one of Hemingway’s own sons. In fact, the cast of characters is drawn from the family and the fishing friends of Hemingway’s days in Havana.
These stories remind us of heroic struggles fought well and fought hard. Some end in victories while others conclude with great loss. All of us have of course experienced victories and losses. We fight and endure as we celebrate victories and recover from defeats. We hope to rise victorious like the Phoenix, above our circumstances. The nonfiction works are strictly about fishing, but in the end, the fictional works are not so much about fishing as they are about struggle and the triumph of the human spirit.
January 22, 2008
I had read some of this in its original context. The Old Man and The Sea is one of my favorite stories- "the fish is a fish, the old man is an old man, the sharks are sharks, and the sea is the sea"(paraphrased). Hemingway is able to show that for this man, fishing is too important to be a metaphor or to represent something else.
This book was my first reading of The Big Two Hearted River- WOW! what a great piece of writing. I really think that's just about the perfect piece of troutstream writing, it was almost too good because the trip was exactly what a fisherman wants out of a journey like that.
The nonfiction wasn't nearly as strong in my opinion, but that could be because it focuses on big marlin salt fishing, which I'm personally just not as interested in.
This book was my first reading of The Big Two Hearted River- WOW! what a great piece of writing. I really think that's just about the perfect piece of troutstream writing, it was almost too good because the trip was exactly what a fisherman wants out of a journey like that.
The nonfiction wasn't nearly as strong in my opinion, but that could be because it focuses on big marlin salt fishing, which I'm personally just not as interested in.
May 28, 2013
This is an enjoyable collection of Hemingway's many descriptions and depictions and also his knowledge of fishing. Although many of the passages are from Hemingway novels and novella I have already completed, the Nick Adams and various Esquire, Vogue and Holiday magazine articles dating from the 1930s through to the 1950s are well worth having in one collection. I was particular enthralled by the Esquire article where Hemingway outlines the story of the Old Man and the Sea, back in 1936. It makes sense of his theory that the best writing is based on truth but it is completely made-up. Regardless, this book has inspired me to go fishing more often, and I have decided to learn how to fly-fish at the next opportunity.
October 2, 2016
Just finished this. It's a compilation of different fishing stories. Either articles he wrote about fishing for various magazines, or extracts from some of his novels. I was underwhelmed. I really don't like any of his works, except for his non-fiction work on bullfighting, "Death in the Afternoon." I have read most of his works. Aside from Hemingway, I think it's hard for fisherman to get excited about fishing stories, because it's just nothing like the real thing. I like reading "how to" type articles from Field & Stream or articles that identify good locations, but I think reading fishing stories is boring. Telling fishing stories is quite a different matter. Telling fishing stories is fun, because we generally lie.
September 22, 2013
It's just a collection of excerpts and short stories - The irati river passage from The Son Also Rises, Big Two-Hearted River, etc.
I've read all the stories before, but it's a perfect collection for a boat or beach holiday. Collapse onto the bed and open it as the rocking of the van comes to a squeaking halt.
If you've read Hemingway, you've read it all before, but it's still good. Make sure if you go anywhere near a fishing shop while you're reading it, make sure it's on the windward side of payday (I don't have a credit card anymore).
I've read all the stories before, but it's a perfect collection for a boat or beach holiday. Collapse onto the bed and open it as the rocking of the van comes to a squeaking halt.
If you've read Hemingway, you've read it all before, but it's still good. Make sure if you go anywhere near a fishing shop while you're reading it, make sure it's on the windward side of payday (I don't have a credit card anymore).
April 11, 2010
never realized trout fishing would be so interesting
great collection of EH's writings on his lifelong past-time
fascinating how the hunter has a bittersweet appreciation for its prey, a sadistic and inevitable kind of love,
that to know the prey enough to capture and murder it is also to fall in love with it and know it as oneself
great collection of EH's writings on his lifelong past-time
fascinating how the hunter has a bittersweet appreciation for its prey, a sadistic and inevitable kind of love,
that to know the prey enough to capture and murder it is also to fall in love with it and know it as oneself
March 29, 2016
Half way through - a collection of the stories Heminwgay wrote about fishing. So let's see...I get Hemingway (check), fishing (check), drinking (checkadoo), and smoking cigars (check), and northern Michigan (double check). So yep, I'm enjoying it immensely.
August 4, 2012
I got this for Christmas. I've always been a big Hemingway fan; even have a picture of him in my dining room. This was a great collection, and for every fan of fishing or of Hemingway, it's a must have.
January 10, 2016
I only read the section that contained his newspaper and magazine writings on fishing, not the sections that took excerpts from his books, so the 3 star rating is based on just a small part of the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews