THE URBAN MYTH. By Terry Dempsey.

2012 1st edition. Large 8vo (165 x 245mm). Pp384. Colour photographs, b/w illustrations by Gareth Fareham. Green boards, upper board and spine titled in gilt.

"Before the major explosion carp fishing received in the early nineties, the challenge of catching a carp was still in its infancy. With no monthly magazines available and only a small number of books written about the subject, the angler had to learn through a process of trial and error. One angler who excelled in these early times was the author of this book, Terry Dempsey. From the age of 13 years old, Terry who lived on a council estate in London with his family, went in search of some of the most coveted carp that swam in England. With limited tackle no transport and lack of any substantial funds, Terry along with his friend Tony caught many of the prized carp from a number of lakes, including some of the circuit waters that at the time were being fished by the countries [sic] elite. In his own words Terry will take you on a long journey back in time to the days when there was no such thing as a sponsored angler, and making your own tackle and bait was the only way. Throughout the pages of this book, I know you will sense the magical atmosphere that added flavour to it. Because he has been catching big carp for over 3 decades, not every lake he has fished or every capture could be fitted into any normal sized book, so the book had to be split into two, this being the first. In Terry's own words, whoever reads this book will be taken by the magic". Chapters include:- Park life; Monsters in the forest; The quest for the small 30; The magical mystery tour; The promised land; The wind of change; A message for H; The fat and ugly mirrors; In too deep; The rise of the carp protectors; Oh my God!; Black magic; Haunted by carp; Return for the fat and ugly mirrors; The secret aquarium; Day tripper.