A Keen Fisherman and his Books!

The Works of John Moore – The 1930s

Between 1930 and 1939 John Moore had seventeen books published.  In 1931 he turned his back on what should have proved a secure future as an auctioneer, opting for the insecure existence of a writer.  During these early years he gradually developed his successful writing style, although, in common with most writers, he did take one or two wrong turns along the way. This blog looks at two books that John Moore wrote in this decade concerning one of his passions: fishing!

The Book of the Fly Rod

The Book of the Fly Rod

In 1931, John Moore completed The Book of the Fly Rod, which appeared as a vellum-bound limited edition and contained contributions from the best practitioners in the world of fly fishing, among them an American man of letters, Ferris Greenslet, Norwegian sportsman Professor Knut Dahl and Gray Griswold, a highly experienced angler on prolific Canadian rivers. John Moore, who wrote a chapter about fishing for Chub with fly, became the sole editor after Hugh Sheringham’s unexpected death in May 1930 and was widely congratulated for bringing the work to fruition. Hugh Sheringham was an angling writer and keen fisherman of enormous reputation in the first quarter of the 20th century.

The Angler’s Weekend Book

The Angler’s Weekend Book

The Angler’s Weekend Book, published in 1935, is an impressive book on the ethos and practice of angling and enhanced John Moore’s reputation amongst the sport’s devotees. This is a lengthy and wonderful anthology of pieces of writing about fish, fishing, fisherman and the whole joyful, painful experience of the angling life. According to David Cole, ‘a generous advance for [the book] came just in time to save Moore from his bank manager.’

Eric Taverner was a leading author on angling and one of the most important contributors to the sporting knowledge of his generation. Responsible for many classic volumes, including those on salmon and trout for the Lonsdale Library, and a prolific writer for periodicals, he still enjoys an international reputation today.

Are you a keen fisherman?

Have you read either of these books by John Moore?

Why not delve into the pages of these books and discover John Moore’s experiences and knowledge on the sport of fishing!