Synopses & Reviews
Combining exquisite natural history with beguiling autobiographical and historical narrative, a portrait of a fish whose story is closely intertwined with our own The Atlantic salmon is an extraordinary and mysterious fish. Here, Richard Shelton combines memoir and deep scientific knowledge to reveal, from the salmon's point of view, both the riverine and marine worlds in which it lives. He explores this iconic fish's journey to reach its feeding grounds in the northern oceans before making the return over thousands of miles to the brooks of its birth to reproduce. Along the way, Shelton describes the feats of exploration that gave us our first real understanding of the oceans, and shows how this iconic fish is a vital indicator of the health of our rivers and oceans. Above all, this is the story of Richard Shelton's lifelong passion for the sea and his attempt to solve the perennial enigmas of the salmon's secret life.
Review
"This examination of the life of the wild Atlantic salmon should intrigue any natural history-minded reader . . . encyclopedic yet eminently readable." —Booklist
Review
"An absolute delight—the perfect mixture of first-hand knowledge of natural history coupled with wit, humor and a great story." —Alan Titchmarsh, author, How to Be a Gardener
Review
"A remarkable addition to natural history. . . . Magisterial." —Ronald Blythe, author, Akenfield
Review
"Natural history writing at its very best." —Literary Review
About the Author
Richard Shelton is research director of the Atlantic Salmon Trust, former head of a freshwater fisheries laboratory, and the author of The Longshoreman: A Life at the Waters Edge, which was longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award.