Fishing the River of Time

At age eighty, Tony Taylor journeys from Sydney to British Columbia to fish the Cowichan River with his eight-year-old grandson, Ned. This trip is an opportunity for Tony to return to a landscape that has had a profound effect on his life and his way of thinking, and to share this place with his grandson.

As Tony teaches Ned the patient art of fly-fishing, a lifetime of memories, thoughts and stories unspool in peaceful reflections by the water’s edge.

Fishing the River of Time is an elegant meditation on nature, life and family, written with warmth and wisdom. It inspires self-reflection and an appreciation of the natural world and the fundamentals of our human experience. It is destined to become a classic work of simple living after Henry David Thoreau’s Walden.

Praise for Fishing the River of Time:

‘Tony Taylor’s book is a reminder of the importance of nature and continuity in all aspects of our lives. It will appeal to readers of Robert Hughes’ A Jerk on One End and will make an excellent present for anglers and grandfathers.’ **** (4 stars).

Australian Bookseller & Publisher

‘A wise and wonderful book flowing with love for the life of the Earth –human, animal, the great woods, and the deep slow pulse of rock and water. Being about ‘something more important than fish,’ Tony Taylor’s book will delight all who angle for the great and wild things, above all beauty and truth.’

Ronald Wright, author of A Short History of Progress

‘A superb mix of natural history, biography—and fishing. Not to be missed.’

Tim Flannery

‘Although focused on the task of catching a fish, Taylor and his grandson enjoy so much more. And that is really what this book is about, making a connection, with nature, other people and with yourself. VERDICT: A pretty good catch.’

Daily Telegraph

‘For Taylor, ‘Life is an adventure searching for answers. They are best looked for in remote places where civilisation hasn’t taken hold.’ Answers, and the odd aside on globalisation, are set down with the assuredness of a man with a full, inquisitive life behind him…If you’re one for life lived in thrall of wild places, parallels between fishing and living, or listening to tales of an octogenarian raconteur, this one’s for you.’

Readings Monthly

‘There is much wisdom in these pages…There is little not to like about this book and I foretell it will become something of a classic…’

Canberra Times

‘Discover [the secrets of living a long, happy and healthy life] for yourself by reading this and while learning to be cool about cougars; paddle a canoe like an Indian; and make frozen TV dinners from wolvertine stew.’

Sydney Morning Herald

‘Taylor is a thoughtful, knowledgeable writer who has led an interesting and adventurous life. He joins a select list of fine writers, comfortable in solitude, who find their inspiration in unspoiled places. 4 stars.’

Adelaide Advertiser

‘Taylor is thought-provoking, challenging and entertaining, and his words linger long after the book has been closed.’

Weekend Press (NZ)

‘This is the modest memoir of a remarkable man…. Taylor’s elegant, reflective style flows easily between past and present. His vocabulary is a simple blend of the formal and informal, and his paragraphs are phrased with a fine attention to rhythm. The memoir is nicely shaped, meandering to a high point two-thirds of the way through when Ned arrives, and then moving to a soft inspirational ending….[Tony and Ned’s] time by the river is not so much about fishing, as about searching nature for answers. This is an inspiring first book by a gentle and generous writer.’

Australian Book Review

‘This is a delightful memoir about the gentle art of fly fishing and the importance of family. Should be a prize winner and a future Australian classic.’

Illawarra Mercury

’This thoughtful, witty contribution has an eloquence that reaffirms fishing is truly about thinking and understanding in ‘a world of serenity and freedom’ . It makes you think about the rivers of your own adventures. Now you’re ready to catch some fish.’

Courier-Mail