From its first magnificent sentence, "In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing," To the last, "I am haunted by waters," "A River Runs Through It" Is an American classic.based on Norman Macl...From its first magnificent sentence, "In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing," To the last, "I am haunted by waters," "A River Runs Through It" Is an American classic.based on Norman Maclean's childhood experiences, "A River Runs Through It" Has established itself as one of the most moving stories of our time.