The Old Man and the Sand Eel

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, Heat

[Will Millard] writes with a genuine sense of humility (...) humour and reflection

Kevin Parr, Countryfile

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, Geographical

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, Literary Review

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, The Spectator