Izaak Walton's 'The Compleat Angler' was first published in 1653 in London, becoming one of the most celebrated books in the English language. Part instruction manual, part philosophical dialogue, and part pastoral idyll, the work celebrates the contemplative and moral virtues of fishing. Walton's prose, rich with quotations from Scripture and classical literature, elevated angling to a spiritual practice. The book has never been out of print and has inspired countless poets and writers over the centuries.

Walton's work is a cornerstone of English pastoral literature, influencing poets from Alexander Pope to William Wordsworth. Its meditative tone and celebration of nature resonated with the Romantic movement, and its dialogues have been compared to those of Plato. The book also popularized fishing as a literary theme, leading to a rich tradition of angling poetry and prose.