his way begins almost accidentally when, in 1909, he watches a fly-casting tournament in New York's Central Park, and begins to dream of becoming a great fly caster. But soon Ian experiences personal tragedy, and then is appalled by the unexpected slaughter of World War I. He retreats into the world of fly fishing and fly casting, and meets unforgettable anglers like: Doc, a Civil War veteran, who tells how, after he enlisted in return for drinking money, he was unexpectedly changed by the horror of war; Izzy, a mysterious immigrant, who, in his way, teaches Ian perhaps the most important lesson of long-distance fly casting; and George M. L. La Branche who, though torn by self-doubt, writes the book that revolutionizes fly fishing. And so, these anglers help change Ian's hopes and values. Though his father questions his courage, Ian decides to become a teacher instead of a lawyer, and moves near the beautiful Beaverkill River, the birthplace of fly fishing in America. But tragedy still follows him. Torn by grief, he curses the world and loses faith in it - until, almost by accident, he finds a way to come to terms. How? The answer will surprise you. "The novel is well-written, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it." - John Pitarresi, The Observer- Dispatch "An engaging tale of a young man coming to age" - Lee Murdock, FlyFishMagazine.com "A compelling novel that describes one fly caster's search for personal peace." - Bill AuCoin, the Aucoin Report "Great book Mr. Kadish!" - Bill Anderson, Trout Waders. "It was impossible to put down. ... A great read." - David Knapp, The Trout Zone. Read A Review Read An Excerpt |
