Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions is a fictional book written by American author Daniel Wallace, and was first published by Pandher Books on October 1, 1998. The book is a commentary on death, through the art of jokes and story-telling, and teaches the value of life.
The story follows William Bloom as he sits with his father, who is on his deathbed. His father had a propensity for telling exaggerated stories throughout his lifetime, which William is attempting to understand through a series of flashbacks. As the story progresses, William attempts to generate a conversation in his head as to what he will say to his father on his death bed.
The book was adapted for film, Big Fish, and was released in 2003. It was directed by Tim Burton and starred Ewan McGregor as Edward Bloom and Billy Crudup as Will Bloom. A theatre adaptation was also premiered in 2013, and starred Tony-Award Winning Norbert Leo Butz.
