Back in print: Laurence Catlow’s Confessions of a Shooting, Fishing Man
Posted by Lydia Unwin on
Laurence Catlow’s small shoot in Cumbria. His first book, Confessions of a Shooting Fishing Man, is now back in print.
Throughout 1995, Laurence's diary records his hopes of buying some precipitous shooting ground in the Pennines, his fishing days on the Eden, Wharfe and other rivers, the arrival of a second gundog and days spent together on shoots. All this activity is interspersed with Laurence's quest for his true motives in killing what he most loves. He looks at foxhunting, vegetarianism, man as a hunter, man as created in God's image and man as a creature doomed, himself, to die.
Nearly 25 years later, this diary remains highly topical, thought-provoking and original, yet its tone is also very human and it comes from the pen of a true nature-lover.
Below is a photo of Catlow's land in Cumbria where he raises pheasant poults and enjoys the local fishing.
I have had the pleasure of reading all of Laurence Catlow’s books and have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone who has an interest in field and river sports. Often thought provoking, always interesting, sometimes challenging, but always immensely enjoyable.
I wish I had his ability to put thoughts into words with such clarity, but I don’t so reading his books is all the more enjoyable. Keep ‘em coming Laurence!
From a seventy five year old fan.