PREFACE 



We have recently been informed that in a 

 biography "the person delineated should have 

 the pov^er of permanently interesting his fellow- 

 men ; and next, that the delineator should be 

 able to recall him to life."^ 



Izaak Walton, as years go on, is loved as a 

 man and writer more and more ; but whether I 

 have succeeded in re-animating him must be left 

 to the reader to determine. 



This book is written chiefly with a view to 

 bring out the spiritual side of Walton's character. 

 I cannot find that anyone before me has attempted 

 to do this. Walton was (to borrow a splendid 

 phrase) a " God-intoxicated man," and to ignore 

 this fact seems fatal to any right estimate of 

 his character and life. 



I venture to think that some little fresh in- 

 formation may be found in this book which may 



1 See an article in the National Review of December 1901, 

 by Mr Asquith. 



