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The Old Man and the Sand Eel

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The Old Man and the Sand Eel

By: Will Millard
Narrated by: Will Millard
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Old Man and the Sand Eel, written and read by Will Millard.

Growing up on the Cambridgeshire Fens, Will Millard never felt more at home than when he was out with his granddad on the riverbank whiling away the day catching fish. As he grew older his competitive urge to catch more and bigger fish led him away from that natural connection between him, his grandfather and the rivers of his home and into large commercial fisheries catching fish after fish. That is, until the fateful day he let a record-breaking sand eel slip through his fingers and he knew that he had lost the magic of those days down by the river, and that something had to change. Armed with his late grandfather's well-thumbed fishing encyclopaedia Will set out on a quest to get back to his roots and catch some of our great forgotten fish species, hidden deep in our lost waterways.

The Old Man and the Sand Eel is at its heart the story of three generations of men trying to figure out what it is to be a man, a father and a fisherman. It plots Will's scaly stepping stones back to his childhood innocence and late granddad, and a return to the importance of understanding the truly feral through a child's eyes, when anything was possible and the wild was everywhere.

Animals Biological Sciences Ecology Fatherhood Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science Fishing Western Europe

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Critic reviews

A wonderfully fluent account of how the strange magic of water and the beings that inhabit it can enchant and intoxicate (Chris Yates)
[Will Millard] is a master wordsmith and his first book is a joyful testament to that (Isabelle Broom)
The writing is sharp and clever (...) I loved all of it and would as happily read it again as I would sit beside the river waiting for the evening rise of trout to begin (Tom Fort)
[Will Millard] writes with a genuine sense of humility (...) humour and reflection (Kevin Parr)
This is post-modern nature writing that embraces beauty where it finds it and marvels at nature's tenacity (...) But there's more here than just fish. This is also a book about growing up, about how to retain a connection with those who raised you while forging your own identity - what to keep and what to discard. And it's about men. The strong surges of emotion that both draw them together and keep them apart, and the shared pastimes which recognise that intimacy and meaning aren't always accompanied by words' (Olivia Edward)
Delightful and informative (...) beautifully drawn (...)The Old Man and The Sand Eel will be enjoyed by anyone who loves the challenge and mystery of baiting a hook and plopping it into the water (Nicholas Shakespeare)
All stars
Most relevant
Being a female I can now very much appreciate 'men and fushing'. Loved this read hugely. I've been educated .
Narrated by Will himself is a big bonus. Beautiful. Passionate. Warm.

Simply superb.

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Just wanted to thank you for putting your book on Audible. Working in London Borough of Merton I drive around site to site most days and try to get through the working week listening to audible books, mostly fly fishing related until I'm able to get to the river at the weekend. Your book struck a cord with me about my own angling history and really touched me, thank you so much for making it and please rest assured if you make another ill certainly buy it and probably give it to my friends as Xmas gifts like I did this year.

Thank you

Sublime

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A remarkable and moving book. I became aware of Will Millard through his documentary TV work in Indonesia which in turn led me to this book. I am so glad it did as this is one of the most heartfelt books I have ever read. I really cannot recommend it highly enough for anyone who has ever picked up a rod or enjoyed time in the wilderness. Superb. Thanks Will for sharing so many personal memories, I’m sure the book will inspire many people in different ways.

Remarkable

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Absolutely loved it, I don't fish and I'm no fan of fishing but that isn't all this book is about it's fantastic nostalgia from a time when kids were free and reminds me of my own childhood, I find myself willing Will to catch those elusive fish he's striving for and understanding why, I might even pick up a rod now myself! welldone Will a cracking book!

amazingly gripping

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I dont know how 1 person can create multiple works that you just want to read over and over again? I do know Will Millard can absolutely do this... loved this book and already restarted listening to it all over again. I was a late comer to fishing after, what my friends called an amazong beginners luck season in my first year in 2024, barely caught any last year, a personal best of 18lb pike on dead bait being the catch of the year. This book and Wills (Grandads) reminder of how to fish has reignited the spark in me and I cant wait to go out again this weekend.

The writing and possibly the narrating of Wills books connects me to the story in such a way it has a profound influence on my life that I just cant explain, be it by travelling way out into the wilderness last year to Treig for an adventure of a lifetime or this book thats definitely re-affirmed my love for course fishing.

Great Book, thankyou

One fo the Greats

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