SOURCE: Oliver, H. J. “Izaak Walton as Author of Love and Truth and Thealma and Clearchus,” in Review of English Studies, 21, No. 97 (January, 1949): 24-37.

In the following essay, Oliver considers the evidence that Walton wrote Love and Truth and Thealma and Clearchus, arguing that similarities in style and language between these works and his known writings suggest Walton is the author.

The attribution to Izaak Walton of the tract Love and Truth and the narrative poem Thealma and Clearchus has been common enough in the history of Walton scholarship; the weight of authority is, if anything, for his authorship of the former, against his authorship of the latter. But there is nothing like general agreement on any of the questions involved, and it would seem to be time to assemble the known evidence and add whatever one can that is new.

In doing this it is important, I...