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  • The Old Man and the Sand Eel

  • By: Will Millard
  • Narrated by: Will Millard
  • Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (17 ratings)

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The Old Man and the Sand Eel

By: Will Millard
Narrated by: Will Millard
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Summary

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.

©2018 Will Millard (P)2018 Penguin Audio
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What listeners say about The Old Man and the Sand Eel

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Sublime

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

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Remarkable

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.

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amazingly gripping

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!

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Awesome

As someone that has never been into fishing, I certainly didn't choose this book for that. Written by a guy I went to primary school with, and lived across the river from, after watching him on TV, I thought I'd have a nose at the book. I was nicely surprised at how much I enjoyed listening to Will talk enthusiastically about his fishing journey, and loved the stories about the fens, our old school friends and teachers.
Nice work Will! Bloody brilliant!

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