Hardcover, 400 pages
English language
Published Oct. 1, 1999 by Walker & Company.
he 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.
I didn't know much of Spain's history at all, so this neatly killed two birds with one stone for me (a primer on a tiny bit of Spanish history, and a deep dive on Basque history).
