A River Runs Through It

A River Runs Through It is a semi-autobiographical novella by Norman Maclean (1902-1990). In 1992 Robert Redford directed a film of the same name based on the novella.

Related Topics:
Norman Maclean - Robert Redford

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This novella, which first came out in 1976 has been published in several ways. It is issued as a collection of short stories, including the novella, and bearing a title starting with that of the novella. The novella has also been published apart, usually as an art book with many photographs, or with many illustrations such as woodcuts.

Related Topics:
1976 - Woodcut

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For an illustrated version there is still in print a hardcover edition issued in Chicago by the University of Chicago Press in 1989 with ISBN 0226500608.

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The collection of short stories with the novella, A River Runs Through It and Other Stories is issued as a paperback in Chicago by the University of Chicago Press in 2003 with ISBN 0226500667.

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A prominent theme of the book, set in the Montana of the 1920-30s, is fly fishing. While vividly described in Maclean's prose, the sumptous cinematography of the movie -- sweeping shots of crystal clear rivers flowing through pristine mountain valleys -- captured the imagination of many non-anglers, especially affluent urbanites. Not surprisingly, the movie fueled a dramatic rise in fly-fishing's popularity: the fly fishing industry expanded roughly three-fold in the five years following the movie's release.

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This rapid expansion of the sport was a mixed bag, both for die-hard fisherfolk and for the fish. On the one side, many new technologies and refinements were brought to bear on ancient equipment and methods; fly-fishermen are gadget freaks by nature, so this was generally enjoyable. However, the well-known rivers also became very crowded with novices, and some ecosystems suffered. Both the unspoiled natural places and the contemplative state of mind portrayed in Maclean's book (and the movie) became harder to find.

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Incidentally, the Big Blackfoot River near Missoula, Montana, is featured in the story, but most of the scenes in the movie were actually filmed on the Gallatin River near Bozeman, Montana.

Related Topics:
Big Blackfoot River - Missoula, Montana - Gallatin River - Bozeman, Montana

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