Arthur Applin

He was an actor, playwright and prolific novelist, but we like Arthur Applin best of all for his Philandering Angler. Published in 1948, just a year before his death, and illustrated by BB, this memoir nudges and winks through some wonderful tales and includes the best "forced off the river" excuse ever.

Having found a stream full of brownies in northern France, Applin was aghast to be turfed out of his hotel before he could exploit it. Mind you, the German army was invading...