Transworld reels in Tallack’s literary fishing memoir

Transworld has acquired Malachy Tallack’s literary memoir Illuminated by Water, described as a "eulogy to and meditation" to his lifelong personal passion of fishing.

Simon Taylor, editorial director, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Jenny Brown at Jenny Brown Associates. The memoir will be published as a Doubleday hardcover, e-book and audiobook in summer 2022. North American rights have been acquired by Pegasus, and German rights by btb/Luchterhand.

"Illuminated by Water is not only exquisitely written but also transformative," said Taylor. "Combining memoir, nature and travel writing with reflections on history and culture, Malachy’s book is a reminder of how good for the soul the solitariness of fishing can be. Reading it transported me back to a time when I used to spend hours by the water’s edge, eager to discover what lay beneath the surface. It’s beautifully done and made me yearn to go fishing again." 

Tallack, a Shetland travel writer, novelist and singer-songwriter, commented: "The idea for Illuminated by Water emerged during the first lockdown in spring 2020, when outdoor activities were restricted. I felt an urgency to think and write about sources of joy, and about my own relationship with the natural world. I hope the book can bridge the gap between angling literature and contemporary nature writing, and that it will be enjoyed even by readers who have never yet cast a line. I’m thrilled it’s found such an excellent home at Transworld."