Book description
The Basques are Europe's oldest people, their origins a mystery,
their language related to no other on Earth, and even though few in
population and from a remote and rugged corner of Spain and France,
they have had a profound impact on the world. Whilst inward-looking,
preserving their ancient language and customs, the Basques also struck
out for new horizons, pioneers of whaling and cod fishing, leading the
way in exploration of the Americas and Asia, were among the first
capitalists and later led Southern Europe's industrial revolution.
Mark Kurlansky, the author of the acclaimed Cod, blends human
stories with economic, political, literary and culinary history to
paint a fascinating picture of an intriguing people.
Mark Kurlansky is the author of several bestselling non-fiction
titles including
Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World
(winner of the Glenfiddich Best Food Book Award),
The Basque History
of the World
,
Salt: A World History
,
1968: The Year that Rocked the World
, a short story collection
The White Man in the Tree
and a novel,
Boogaloo on 2nd Avenue.
