Portraits Of Rivers

Portraits of Rivers: The warm stone of a balustraded bridge rough beneath your hand, and the running water below you fixing your eye with its mesmeric movement. The river cupping your punt or skiff, gentle as a mother. The flash of waters in the sun as you breast the hill. The cool clutch of the current at your ankles as you dabble your feet from the bank. The hiss of the reel as you cast your line. In the still water your dazzled reflection looks up at you. Reeds tall in the water-meadows, the bullrushes hiding the cradle of another mother's son. All things to all men, paddled for pleasure, flushed with the effluent of power-turbines. If you love rivers and tideways this is a book you will treasure. Turn the pages, find the river in the mood which suits you. Brian Vesey-Fitzgerald writes about the Itchen: E. W. H. Christie about the Trent: Aubrey de Silencourt about the Crouch: Lettice Cooper about the Ouse: Colin Wills about the Eden: James Fisher about the Nene: Brian Waters about the Severn: Robert Aickman about the Avon: W. H. Potts about the Wye: Laurie Lee about the Thames. Dust jacket in poor condition, with a large tear alone the spine. 140 pages.…