A River Runs Through Me: A Life of Salmon Fishing in Scotland

‘It is a love letter not just to the river, but to the rhythms of family life by its banks. Warm, witty, and in parts, deeply moving’ SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL An evocative account of one man’s life spent fishing on arguably the world’s best salmon river: a story of family, tradition and the Scottish countryside. Against the shifting moods and seasons of Scotland’s River Tweed, A River Runs Through Me tells the story of a lifelong relationship with one of its most iconic denizens: the Atlantic salmon. Through vivid vignettes and family memories, Andrew Douglas-Home spins a homely yet dryly witty narrative, placing this unique fish and river at its heart. Woven into the decades, amid youthful adventure and memorable catches, are stories too of one of Scotland’s oldest families – tales of politics, friendship and stewardship of the natural world. This poignant and thoughtful book looks back at age-old practices and traditions but also forward to what we must do to secure the future of the Atlantic salmon and their rivers. It is the perfect companion for any angling enthusiast. ‘The perfect fishing companion … his book is a delight.’ JEREMY PAXMAN ‘Andrew Douglas-Home and his family are inseparably identified with Tweed, perhaps the most glorious river in Britain, in which its salmon contribute mightily to its beauty. No one is better qualified than the author to write about fishing, wildlife and the wondrous flow of sparkling water across the Borders.’ SIR MAX HASTINGS   ‘An absolute delight… [Andrew Douglas-Home] is a born writer… A River Runs Through Me is unlike any other fishing book I know.’ TOM FORT ‘Delivered in more than 50 short, shard-like chapters, [A River Runs Through Me] is considerably more than the sum of its parts… The joie de vivre that this nicely idiosyncratic book exudes makes it memorable.’ David Profumo, Country Life

About the Author :
Andrew Douglas-Home has lived on the banks of the River Tweed for most of his life. He was awarded the OBE in 2019 for his services to fishing and Scottish culture, recognising his long work helping to secure the environment of the Tweed River and the legacy of Sir Walter Scott and the house he built Abbotsford. Educated at Eton and Oxford, he worked as a chartered accountant and was a Tweed Commissioner for over 35 years, acting as Chairman of the River Tweed Commission and Tweed Foundation for eight years between 2004 and 2012. He is, of course, a keen fisherman.  

Review :
‘It is a love letter not just to the river, but to the rhythms of family life by its banks. Warm, witty, and in parts, deeply moving … Uplifting’ SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL ‘The perfect fishing companion … his book is a delight.’ JEREMY PAXMAN, CLASSIC ANGLER ‘Douglas-Home writes with ease, good humour and honesty about his fishing and also reflects on his childhood, education, life and family. Much of it is touching, and some of it deeply affecting.’ THE FIELD ‘An insightful collection of snippet-like stories and ideas framing a life shaped by … fishing along the Tweed.’ SCOTTISH FIELD ‘An absolute delight… [Andrew Douglas-Home] is a born writer… A River Runs Through Me is unlike any other fishing book I know.’ TOM FORT ‘The perfect fishing companion … his book is a delight.’ JEREMY PAXMAN ‘Andrew Douglas-Home and his family are inseparably identified with Tweed, perhaps the most glorious river in Britain, in which its salmon contribute mightily to its beauty. No one is better qualified than the author to write about fishing, wildlife and the wondrous flow of sparkling water across the Borders.’ SIR MAX HASTINGS ‘Delivered in more than 50 short, shard-like chapters, [A River Runs Through Me] is considerably more than the sum of its parts… The joie de vivre that this nicely idiosyncratic book exudes makes it memorable.’ David Profumo, Country Life