The Basque History Of The World

This book was very informative and easy to understand. There are many opinions about The Basques and their history and I felt this author was able to explain in a straight forward manner without glorifying the Basque or skirting around unpopular moments in history.

Mark Kurlansky gives us a engrossing look at the Basque people in this highly readable The Basque History of the World: The Story of a Nation. Like most, I have a heard a little bit about the Basque, namely their hard-to-learn pre-Indo European language, and the occasional press that ETA separatists garner in the American media. Kurlansky aims to expose us to their rich history, but also their profound impact on Spain, Europe and even the world. The first written evidence of the Basque dates back to Roman times. Already, they had been in their 7 provinces (4 Spanish, 3 French) for a long time at that point. As master shipbuilders and sailors, the Basque were important whalers and merchants. Later, through mining and industry, they helped Spain develop and prosper. During times of war, the Basque were fierce fighters, protecting the state as well as their homeland. However, once they lost their independence in the 1600s, and then their autonomy in the 1700s, most cultures would be assimilated. Not so the Basque. Because of the remoteness of Basqueland, and because of their economic strength, they were able to maintain a strong identity. Indeed Kurlansky at various points touches on the question of who is a Basque. What seems a simple question (is it nurture or nature?), is kept as a fluid definition. Kurlansky then brings up through the various independence movements in modern times (from the 1800s onward) up to the present time. Often, he is able to position activities in Basqueland with greater European and world history to help give the reader context to complex societal movements.

Especially now, Basque culinary prowess has a bit of a cachet in Spain. Kurlansky sprinkles a handful of recipes throughout the book that illustrate their cooking. He also includes an extensive bibliography for anyone who is interested in exploring Basque history and culture.

This is a fantastic book to learn about a little known, but fascinating people.

I have read Kurlansky's previous and excellent books on food, including cod and salt. Perhaps his research, or interest in Basque cuisine, led him to this book. In any event, I am glad it did. I am generally familiar with the Basques, including a cancelled trip to Pamplona in the mid seventies when the ETA was blowing stuff up. Of course that was when I was young and stupid and did not realize that I was more likely to die of a bull goring. This book was an excellent overview of Basque history.

Kurlansky begins with origins. No one seems to know whether the Basques are truly indigenous, or where else they may have come. The suis generis nature of their language, and some archaeological findings seem to lead Kurlansky to come down on the side of indigenous. They are analogous to the Etruscans in Italy, although Etruscan language leads some to speculate as to greek origins. In any event, the Basque nation is essentially defined as speakers of its language, who live in a fairly defined geographic area, with established customs.

The Basques historically have been most interested in being left alone, with limited self government. Unfortunately the modern world has not cooperated all that much. Franco especially waged all out war against their separate culture. Moreover, given that much of Spain's industry was in Basque country, there was fear of loss of that industry. The French, although nowhere near as repressive of Basque culture, shared like fears of their Basques.

The Basques were avid capitalists, especially in steel and banking. In agriculture, they were early adopters of new world crops. Unfortunately, there is not much writing in their language predating the twentieth century. They have not left a written history. They have produced some political leaders, but none that were extremely effective.

I did learn that the Basques were instrumental in attracting Gehry's Guggenheim museum to Bilbao. There also is a modern attempt to revive the steel industry that thrived there. The elimination of trade barriers by the EU has destroyed another Basque industry - smuggling.

This book does get slow and dry in spots, yet overall it will reward a person who wants a better understanding of Basque culture.

Basques don't call themselves Basques. In fact, in their language, which is called Euskera, there is no word for Basque. Instead, a member of their group is identified by the fact that he speaks Euskera. And their land is called "Euskal Herria" -- the land of Euskera speakers. I love that little factoid, probably because my long-time fascination with the Basques stems in large part from the fact that their language is not Indo-European; indeed, it most likely predates the Indo-European invasion and may well be the oldest living language in Europe. But despite my interest in the Basques, I knew little about them aside from isolated tidbits. So when I saw THE BASQUE HISTORY OF THE WORLD on sale as a remaindered item in a local bookstore, it was a mandatory purchase.

I now know a lot more about the Basques and Euskal Herria. THE BASQUE HISTORY OF THE WORLD is a very readable, rather journalistic, survey of seemingly all things Basque, including their cuisine (it includes a handful of recipes). Among the subjects covered in the book are the following: early Basque mastery of the seas, such that they likely visited North America before John Cabot and before Columbus discovered the New World; the most famous Basque in history -- Iñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola (better known as Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits); the widespread persecution of witches in Euskal Herria in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; Carlists and the red beret; Guernica, Franco, and the Spanish Civil War; Operation Comet (by which about 700 shot-down airmen were smuggled out of Nazi-occupied France back to the Allies during World War II); the ETA; and the Bilbao Guggenheim.

Next to their language, the most interesting thing about Euskal Herria is how it straddles the border between two countries -- Spain and France. That fact has had interesting historical ramifications, and it gives rise to the question "What is a nation?" -- a question that Kurlansky examines from time to time, albeit in journalistic fashion.

I have two reservations concerning the book. The first has to do with its lack of academic rigor. I can understand (and applaud) a readable, relatively breezy, account, but I wish Kurlansky had cited sources through end-notes. There is a bibliography at the end of the book, but it does not tell the reader where to go for corroboration of Kurlansky's factual statements or further discussion of them. (And I have a nagging suspicion that Kurlansky is a tad loose -- or journalistic -- concerning some of those factual statements.)

My second reservation is that the book ends up having a split focus. The first two-thirds of the book discuss different aspects of Basque identity, history, and culture. (That is the part I enjoyed.) Much of the last third of the book is devoted to a discussion of the ETA, the terrorist faction of Basque nationalists that began operations in the 1950's. That discussion is in greater detail than Kurlansky's treatment of other Basque matters, and it seems as if two separate books were cobbled together.

In my search for a better understanding of the Basques, their place in European history and the reasons for the continuing conflict in their region today, I picked up Mark Kurlansky's book. THE BASQUE HISTORY OF THE WORLD is extremely well-written in modern journalistic style. That is, nothing is pursued to the bitter end, certainly, nor, sometimes, is it pursued to a logical conclusion. Subjects are touched upon, suddenly turned into something else, or dropped. Objectivity is not a high priority, but love of subject finds a secure place. These qualities may not be praiseworthy, academically, but do make for enjoyment. Any historical event can be the trigger for a recipe, an odd but pleasant characteristic of the book, which is thus full of interesting recipes, from `hare with walnut and chocolate', to `Salmí de paloma' (a pigeon dish), to `alubias de Tolosa' (beans). I found loads of fascinating interludes, for example, the description of Basque whaling and fishing expeditions and techniques; the discussion of the intellectual roots of Basque nationalism; how to make pelota balls; and the course of the Spanish Civil War in the Basque country. Kurlansky has the ability to discuss issues without getting bogged down. I have seldom met clearer (but perhaps they were incomplete) passages on the Carlist Wars that ravaged Spain for much of the 19th century. Rather than be an organized history in the usual sense, THE BASQUE HISTORY....... is a kind of "Whole Earth Catalogue" of Basqueness, of Euskal Herria. I liked it. It is not a work for serious scholars, but it certainly can be a jumping off place. It would be an overly serious person indeed who did not find Kurlansky's work charming. I can easily recommend this book to anyone who would like to read about a seldom-discussed people; a distinct European ethnic group with a unique language who have occupied the same lands for thousands of years.
Sometimes I felt that the author threw in "facts" without checking. For example, on page 138 he talks about the Basque word "jauntxo" and says it has come into English as "honcho". This word entered American English after WW II because it was the Japanese word for "superior officer" and was used to ask prisoners who commanded them. Similarly on page 293, Kurlansky claims that "cipayo", used as an epithet to describe local Basque police, was borrowed from a pejorative word used by Indian nationalists to describe Indian police who worked for the British. The word "sipahi" is certainly Hindi/Urdu, but it merely means `soldier' or `constable' and doesn't have any pejorative meaning.
A large section of the book discusses the Basques during Franco's long, oppressive regime, and during its aftermath with the entrance of Spain into Europe, and the rise of Basque terrorism in the struggle to maintain identity and/or become independent. While I found some of this rather diffuse, THE BASQUE HISTORY OF THE WORLD is the only book I know which can give the reader, unfamiliar with the events of 1970-2000, a background to the mayhem from a Basque (nationalist)point of view. For the most part, the author has done his homework, interviewed many interesting people, and compiled his information in a pleasing way.

The Basques certainly deserve their own history, even if this retelling is highly subjective and not objectively historical. Kurlansky seems more in the business of giving clues to the Basque world without spelling everything out. The importance of home or "etxea" in the Basque mindset is explained, as are the resurgences of Basque languages (there seems to be more than one,) and nationalism. The devolution of some aspect of that nationalism into pure violence, and the terrorism of the ETA, is not developed. But the Basque identities of historical figures like Saint Ignatius Loyola and the writer Miguel De Unamuno are satisfyingly explained, as are the differences between later Basque leaders like Sabino Arano, and the chief executive in exile during WWII, Aguirre. Beyond that it's a bit of a hodge-podge, going from the development of Basque trade and industry with the Americas, the creation of the dish "pil-pil," the roots of Basque theology, and the significance of Guernica both as the center of Basque identity and as the victim of the staggering attack by Franco during the Spanish Civil War. And of course, the other reviewer is right. Ferdinand and Isabella had several children, the most significant of which are Juana La Loca and Katherine of Aragon who was the unfortunate first wife of England's Henry VIII. Kurlansky got that wrong, but I assumed he was oversimplifying.

The approximately 2.5 million basques that live in the western Pyrenees spread across a few Spanish and French provinces (the vast majority in Spain), do indeed have a lot to be proud of. As a start, being different is something that people are always happy to claim about themselves. This is most definitely true about the basques. THE BASQUE HISTORY OF THE WORLD is quick to tell us that it is their history that basques are most proud of. An ancient people, their arrival in Iberia may not be from paleolithic times as descendants of Cro-Magnon man as their myths say, but they certainly arrived long before the French and Spanish did; and although their lands have been invaded and ruled by many, starting with the Romans, the basques have always managed to maintain a fair degree of autonomy.
Once the discussion switches to politics, the potential for Mr Kurlansky to slip is great. One of the dangers for writers who become enamoured with the people they research and the places they visit, is that they can end up glamorizing the culture. The finest travel writers such as Theroux, Matthiessen, Naipaul, and Bryson are all aware of this and maintain balance - admiration but also admonishment where appropriate. The danger for Mr Kurlansky is that in talking about basque nationalism and the origins of ETA, the book has the potential for being seen as an apology for the basque terrorist group. Only potential though as Mr Kurlansky explains the political motivations for ETA but is far more interested in highlighting the many reasons why basque is so much more than a word hyphenated as - seperatist.
Mr Kurlansky tells us about basque cuisine. Basques are great fishermen and excellent cooks and there are recipes here to prove it. Other interesting aspects of basque culture discussed are the Atlantic whaling and cod fish industry, why there are a preponderance of Jesuit basques, and the origins of the beret and jai-alai. This rich culture and proud people have an admirer in Mark Kurlansky and he pays them a fitting tribute with this book.

I have read about the Basques for many years. My interest began as a teen-ager when I began studying the Spanish Civil War in which the Basques played a key, albeit schizophrenic, role. They fascinated me with their language that was unrelated to all other known laguages. Their persistent independence and their stoic nature added to their mystic.

I was also interested because my grandfather was a member of a European minority (Frisian) and that led my interest to other European minorities. I had noticed this book in the NY Review of Books and it looked interesting. It wasn't until this past summer that I bought a copy of it. We were travelling through Boise, ID and we stopped at the Basque Cultural Center and their museum. I wish I had read the book first because we ate lunch at a Basque restaurant but I didn't know what dishes they were best known for. The museum reminded me of much of what I had already read about the Basques and it also made me aware of their whaling history.

"The Basque History of the World" covers just about all of the aspects of their history and culture. There was a lot of information new to me (i.e. the Basques may have been the first Europeans to set foot on the North American continent). There is an extensive history with a lot of detail about how ETA was formed, what its' modern-day focus is, and how the emerging European nation affects the Basques. While there is a sense of pointless violence that one gets from the infrequesnt Basque terrorist actions, I was stunned to realize how closely Franco came to obliterating their culture. Consider that the ban on speaking Basque was in force for so many decades that current generations of Basques are having to learn their native language as a second language.

It would seem hard for such a specialized book to leave anything out. However, the history of Basques in America is left out as well as their stoic nature. I learned a long time ago about Basques who specialized in sheepherding in the American West. They were uniquely qualified to take herds of sheep to remote areas and live alone for 6-12 months at a time. Most of the rest of us would go nuts in such solitary confinement. Well. I quess that's a minor point missing from an encyclopedia of information. This was an enjoyable book to read.

Despite the fact this this is popular history this is a good read. Few books detail the Basques or their unique history and even fewer books are as illuminating as this one. From short histories of whaling to the birth of the Jesuit missionaries and other things this read is like a scroll of history. From detailing the odd and confounded Carlist wars to the Basque support of Republicanism, although they had nothing in common with the radical communists, and of course the modern issue of the ETA and the suppression of the Basques under Franco, this book seems to do it all. Immensely informative while not always willing to make judgment calls this book is still a must read. On par with other wonderful works like 1968 and `The Chosen Few' this book also has great chapters on Basque food and the Basque language. Anyone will enjoy this book. The expert Spanish historian may have qualms with the authors slight bias but nevertheless this wide span of this book out-ways any criticism.
Seth J. Frantzman

Kurlansky loves the Basques, and certainly the image of Basques as an ancient people, with a legitimate place in the modern world, who just want to be left alone by all of the "big" nations. He makes a reasonable case for this having been an historic approach by this nationality for nearly two millenia.
It is a popular perspective in today's complex, over media covered and impersonal world to present various people as "just wanting to be themselves, and understood within their own [limited] context." Therein lies the weakness of Kurlanshy's book: lack of objectivity, evident even to one as ignorant about "things Basque" as I am.
That minor shortcoming aside, the book flows beautifully. It entertains, and enlightens. I assume that his facts are supportable. His interpretations lean toward the romantic side, while offering a number of insights into European History. Americans are famous for championing underdogs, to the point where we spend $3 Billion per year supporting Israel, so it is logical for Kurlansky to take the side of this indomitable ethnic/linguistic group. Obviously, some will disagree with his characterization of facts, particularly readers from Spain, whose own reaction is colored by ETA's less that genteel approach to Spanish government.
For the emotionally uninvolved reader, this book is a wonderful introduction to what "Basque" is. For someone with a more serious interest in "things Basque," Kurlansky should be on their reading list, along with works by French and Spanish authors who take positions both pro and con.
For the average American, there is a lot to learn and enjoy here. So read it- you will enjoy it.

The Basque History of the World by Mark Kurlansky is another great book by a great author. I truly enjoyed his others books Cod and Salt (especially Salt, which shouldn't be missed). His love for the Basque people shone through in both of those previous books as he devotes sections to them in each. This book was his great opportunity to share his love for the people with the world and help us to gain a greater understanding for this nation of people without borders who have clung to their languages and their land through thousands of years of occupations and wars. The beginning of the book starts well describing the Basque people and their reported origins and includes interesting tidbits about their biology (40% type O blood), but there are no real answers. There are interesting quirky recipes I can't imagine anyone actually trying, but they are lovely to read. The middle of the book slows down as Kurlansky gives special attention to the plight of the Basques during World War II, especially the bombing of Guernica, and the rise of Franco to power. I can feel Kurlansky's love for these people, and so his passion spills across each page as he describes the struggles the Basques went through under Franco, but much of the book slogs down under the political manipulations, and part of beauty of the book slips away. At the end Kurlansky returns to the stories of the individuals who make up the Basque nation and gives a feeling of hope for them. Ultimately the reader feels as though they have spent time in the country, seen some customs, met some fascinating people, and learned a little about their history, but now the vacation is over and it's time to return to the real world, unable to truly grasp what it really means to be Basque. And I think that just how a Basque would want it.

Kurlansky has written a brilliant introduction to a mysterious people. It is also a timely one, although not universally popular considering its rather lax treatment of ETA violence. Kurlansky does perhaps harbour sympathies for the Basque people and even for the most extreme of their nationalist tendencies, but he does not let this completely cloud his judgment, and it is not entirely clear that Kurlansky "takes sides" or endorses one course of action or another. I can see why it would be easy to become so attached to the Basques and their culture, their language, and the ongoing fight they have pursued in order to keep these fundamentals of who they are intact. People deserve to keep their history, heritage, language, and cuisine, and the Basques have a long, rich, and misunderstood history which deserves the kind of recognition Kurlansky's book brings to their cause, wherever Kurlansky's personal sympathies lie.
I felt that Kurlansky presented basically unbiased information, particularly about the history of the Basques in centuries past. The book is filled with revelations about this formidable and fascinating culture, and I feel that these kinds of explorations in Kurlansky's research and writing dominated this work much more so than current political issues or separatist violence. Sure, it is easy enough for me to say this, completely isolated from the violence and the everyday problems these tense relations may create, but I can say that there are groups in the world who are routinely terrorized by other groups without provocation. (Perhaps "terrorized" is not the ideal word choice because I do not see a reign of terror in the making. I do see that some people may perceive the unrest as such depending on their vantage point).
I, however, was an interested reader who was wholly ignorant of Basque culture and history and wanted to learn more. I got lucky when I wandered through the Halifax, Nova Scotia airport one afternoon and found this book there. Kurlansky has written a well-organized, clear, and thoughtful introduction to the Basque people... people who are misunderstood, underrepresented, and unknown in some cases (I rarely meet Americans, for example, who know what a Basque is. When I tell them they scoff and wonder why I would care to know). I emphasize that I consider this book to be only an introduction or a stepping stone. Kurlansky has not provided the definitive and comprehensive history of the Basque people. He has merely provided a useful tool for further study. One thing that was a fascinating, albeit seemingly random, addition to his work was the interweaving of Basque culinary information. Although I sincerely enjoyed those tidbits, I found their placement a bit annoying.
At the heart of the book is the question that lingers on... "if Euskera is the oldest living language in Europe, are the Basques the oldest European culture?" Euskera has been called an impossible, obscure and incomprehensible language, and for much of history the Euskera speakers were left to themselves, and they developed and explored (as other reviewers point out). They became expert whalers and fishermen, the world's first capitalists, industrialists and the first modern bankers in Spain. Yet there is little more than speculation to corroborate ideas that the Basques were so advanced, particularly in crossing the Atlantic earlier than anyone else.
Major turning points for the Basques have included the 1600s, when, as a nationless nationality, they were more or less locked out of the fishing industry. In the 1700s, the abolition of the Basque traditional laws, the Fueros, followed by the abolition of traditionally collectively held land, also seemed to change things. A pivotal character in the history of Basque nationalism was Sabino Arana, who invented words to create a nation, if in language only, for the Euskera speaking people. "In the Basque language, which is called Euskera, there is no word for Basque. The only word to identify a member of their group is Euskaldun-Euskera speaker. Their land is called Euskal Herria-the land of Euskera speakers. It is language that defines a Basque." Arana wanted to change this by making a new word-Euskadi-to give their region a name.
This is another key question-what exactly makes a person Basque? Is it parentage, residence in Basqueland, or speaking the language? The definition of a Basque has changed over time, but Kurlansky did a fine job exploring some of the changes in attitude and questions surrounded what makes a person Basque. In recent years, there has been a renaissance of "Basqueness" and trying to discover Basqueness. People in the region have been learning and teaching Basque language and culture, and there has been a more prolific creation of a Basque literature. I felt that these issues were key to the book, or at least I hope they were, because that was the most beautiful idea I could think of. The Basque people have survived centuries of adversity, and I think it is much more useful to look at the everyday people rather than ETA extremism. I feel inspired to travel to the Basque region and also to take up the study of Euskera myself (for anyone interested, the University of Nevada in Reno, USA offers online courses and even a PhD program in Basque!)

This small book gives readers an introduction and overview of the Basque culture and examines how the group has survived for centuries in a region that straddles the border between northern Spain and France.

I learned a lot about a culture and region I previously knew nothing about, so that is to Kurlansky's credit. I will say I would feel more comfortable about my knowledge of the Basques if this book had footnotes instead of a general bibliography. Much of what he writes about the Basques, to whom he is clearly sympathetic, is likely true, but I have no way of confirming it. This is not really a serious work of history.

The book is at its strongest in detailing Basque resistance to General Franco's four decade rule in Spain. There is far less about events on the French side of the border, which I think would have strengthened the book, if only to contrast how the rural Basque culture thrived in both countries.

Personally, not being much of a cook, I found the recipes that are scattered throughout the book to be mere distractions, but I could see how a reader with a more culinary orientation would enjoy those parts of the book.

The bottom line is that if you are planning a trip to the region, this book would probably be helpful and informative.

By the end of this generalist history of the Basque people I was of two minds. On the one hand, Kurlansky has written a warm compendium of things and people Basque, filled with interesting little tidbits to store away (eg. the Jesuits were founded by two Basques), enlivened with traditional recipes. On the other hand, in trying to also deliver a readable account of Basque political history, he overextends his abilities, resulting in an unabashedly sympathetic portrayal of Basque nationalism, particularly the ETA terrorist group. And while most of the book focuses on Basque culture (especially language), it all leads up to a dissapointing treatment of their place in the new millenium. The detailing of mistreatment throughout Spanish national history- epecially under Franco-is extremely vivid and provides plenty of justification for sympathy and certainly legitimates the Basque desire to "let us be what we are." What it does not do it allow anyone to gloss over the uglier side of that desire, as perpetrated by a small minority of extremists who terrorize even thir fellow Basques. Kurlansky certainly deserves kudos for bringing the culture of this somewhat obscure nation to broader attention, but one wishes he'd left the modern political history to a more astute analsyst. This weakness is further undermined by the lack of footnotes or citations of any kind that might allow interested readers to dig a little further.

I enjoy well-written books about oft-neglected cultural groups, such as the Cajuns, the Creoles, the Amish, and the Basques. Basque culture is something of an anomaly, there is literally no historical evidence to prove where the group came from, why their language is wholly unrelated to any other known language, and so forth.

Kurlansky writes a nice little book here, it's not a textbook, but it is an interesting history that neither villainizes the Basques (as European society has done) nor condones some of their more radical behavior. Rather, he shows us the culture as a whole; the foodways, music, literature, religion, and so on. He also shines a spotlight on the scant few Basques who have made major contributions to world culture, such as Ignatius Loyola, who founded the Jesuits, who, in turn, founded most major Catholic Universities in the world.

All in all, this book is a lovely read and inspired me to find out more about this little-known and tiny group of people who have had more influence on the world than one might think.

This book brought back many of the sites and sounds, smells and especially the tastes (the gastronome will be interested to find several recipes within)of the Zazpiak Bat (the Seven Provinces of Basqueland)which I experienced ten years ago. I could almost taste the delicious gateau basque avec cerises of Bayonne, the breads, chocolates and all the other assorted goodies as well as the beauty of the green landscape the red tile roofs of the homes and the friendliness of the people. If you cannot tour the Basque country, please read this book and it will certainly provide you with a glimpse of a place and a people not many are familiar with, though will be surprised to find that many of history's explorers and prominent religious figures were Basques. Perhaps the idea of Europe existed before the EU thanks to the ancient ideas of the citizens of EUskadi.

There are a total of seven provinces in Basque land. Three are in France and four are in Spain. Consequently, the birth of local Basque wall graffiti, "four plus three equals one." "The Basque History of the World," is a comprehensive historical portrait of a proud people. Moreover, author Mark Kurlansky details the very unique and "tenacious" characteristics of the Basque population. Interestingly enough, Kurlansky argues that the Basque tongue, "Euskera" is likely the oldest living European language.

Kurlansky's narrative starts in the Bronze age, examines the bloody difficulties of the Spanish Civil War, it documents the stunning bravery of the Basque people during World War II, and reports the terrible human rights violations inflicted on the Basque people by the Franco Dictatorship. Kurlansky also does not fail to report the impressive economic development of the region from fishing to shipbuilding to steel manufacturing. On a diplomatic note, the author makes a point of reporting the shameful American State Department betrayal of the Basque people due to Cold War politics. Finally, this book is an important source of information for all Latin Americans...you may very well discover your own links to the Basque culture. Recommended.

Bert Ruiz

This books details the surprising impact of the Basques on the history of the world. It is a little-known fact that Che Guevara was of partial Basque descent--hence the profusion of berets in some revolutionary circles. It is the claim of the author that "Guevara saw no contradiction in using the image of the beret, because it is the hat of the underdog fighting the establishment."

The Basque struggle against the ruling elite is to some degree epitomized by their support of Carlos as King of Spain after his brother Ferdinand died in 1833. Ferdinand, however, had mandated that his daughter Isabella, only three years old at the time of his death, be heir to the throne with her mother Maria Cristina serving as regent. The nominal rule of Isabella II promised to bring a more secular, centralized, and republican form of government that drew its inspiration from France. For the stolidly Catholic Basques, however, a modern secular state threatened the regional autonomy that was intrinsic to traditional Spanish kingship which largely corresponded to a disjointed collection of ancient titles. The supporters of the Basque cause in the struggle for the overthrow of this new order came to be known as "Carlists". One Carlist newspaper was actually named "La Boina" meaning "The Beret"--the hat that was already the symbol of Basque ideals.

The First Carlist War, spanning 1833-1839, assumed the guise of a struggle between the religious and monarchist elements versus those that were secular and republican, with the Vatican refusing to recognize Queen Isabella II. The Basques had already developed an antipathy for republican secularism with the 1808 invasion of Napoleon Bonaparte, who abolished the Spanish Inquisition. While the forces loyal to Isabella burned monasteries and churches, the Basque Carlists marched into battle singing the songs of the Basque founder of the Jesuit order Ignatias Loyola.

There is also that claim that the shores of New World were known to Basque fisherman long before Columbus--but kept a secret so that others would not invade their secret fishing grounds. Basque maritime trade, aided by a royal mandate that excluded Basque ports from need to pay Spanish customs, reached out to the world at a time that the Spanish empire was in steep decline. The huge iron deposits in the Basque province of Vizcaya that supplied a third of Europe's iron gave rise to Basque iron and steel works that produced everything from musket barrels to anchors. As a result the Basques were both successful capitalists and fighters against the establishment.

One point that is not really touched upon by this book is the claim that a quite a few of the peoples of Europe are of the same pre-Indo-European stock as the Basques--including native Britons. This issue is addressed in detail by Oxford geneticist Stephen Oppenheimer in his book Origins of the British. His findings indicate that the Basques are closer genetically to some groups in Britain (especially the natives of Cornwall) than in Spain as a whole.

I know of more than one old Virginia family of British ancestry, including that of my wife, where people have very dark hair and facial features similar to those of the basque leftist Delores Ibarruri, a 1930's icon of the Republican cause in the Spanish Civil War. Friends from another old Virginia family were sometimes mistaken for Italians. You see these same sort of facial features (and dark hair) in pictures of the Kentucky-born country singer Loretta Lynn. When de Tocqueville visited American in the 1830's he actually commented that the white inhabitants of Kentucky were originally from Virginia, as could be seen from their unique physiognomy--as revealed by his account as collected in Tocqueville in America.

I was very interested in the Basque country after I learned that my family (ARMIJO) can be traced as early as the 13th Century to Laredo, Spain, a small resort beach town in the heart of Basque land. I learned a lot & reflected on a few customs that have been carried over in my family...for example, love of sardines & pride in my Spanish heritage. This was quite interesting to learn about the long history of the Basque people. It's amazing to realize that it is quite likely that the Basque people may very well be the first known Europeans.
I strongly recommend this for any one visiting Northern Spain, any historian interested in Europe &/or any one of Spanish ancestry. I recently (Oct. 2002) visited Laredo, Spain, Zaragoza, Spain (The Armijo Palace) and Biarritz, France...I felt at home and safe in these areas.

Like Northern Ireland, the subject of the Basques becomes a division into 2 camps: those who think that the Basques do not deserve independence, and those who think that they do. I was part of the second group before I read this book, and I still am. Kurlansky's account of the origins of Basque nationalism, beginning with Sabino Arana, is very well documented and researched, albeit very biased. But like Northern Ireland, there is no way that one can avoid developing one's own position on this issue, unless one just does not care. I do have a problem with how he sees the modern day ETA in very much the same light as ETA during Franco's time. In my view, the ETA of Franco's time and the ETA of today are two different groups that share the same name. That said, this is one of my favorite books, has a permanent place on my shelf, and I find myself taking it down and reading it over and over. Mr. Kurlansky has shown us why a minority of Basques turned to violence to get their independence, but also the beauty and splendor of a people who are as old as Europe itself.

I began reading Kurlansky's book about Basque history with some reservations. His engaging story about Cod, "...the fish that changed the world", was filled with speculation disguised as fact and half truths supporting some very dubious conclusions. Yet it was a wonderful yarn, well written, cleverly marketed as a "biography", and a joy to read. Given my deep admiration for the Basque people, I was hoping he would produce a better effort this time around.
Unfortunately, Mr. Kurlansky has reverted to his old habits of exageration, bias and a highly selective use of fragmented and questionable historical evidence ranging from the supposed medieval design of steam engines to the existence of multiple north and south American whaling colonies in the fourteenth century, all the product of Basque genius and daring. The reader is treated to an almost laughable interpretation of European history; to wit: the Basques invented nearly everything, they discovered the entire world, were the bravest soldiers, the best seafarers, most intrepid businessmen and greatest thinkers of the Iberian Peninsula. Oh, by the way, no footnotes.
To say that many of Kurlansky's claims are suspect or subject to interpretation, or possibly just a teeny bit overblown, would be charitable. Some are just wrong and others are impossible to verify. It is at least arguable the Basques are not the most Catholic people in Europe. Elcano was not the first man to circumnavigate the globe as Kurlansky suggests. Magellan had reached the Philippines sailing east before undertaking the westerly journey to the same area where he lost his life in a skirmish.
It's one thing to say the Basques were great fishermen which is true. It's something else to claim, as does Kurlansky without doubt or reservation, that they were the first to fish cod and whales off north America. That is a proposition which has sharply divided historians for years. To assert that the Basques developed the first commercial law of the sea is to ignor the Rhodian Code, Amalfi "Tablets", Rules of Oleron, parts of Justinian's Digests and the Llibre del Consolat de Mar of Barcelona.
The point of all this is that Kurlansky's book about Basque history is biased, misleading and distorted. His fondness and respect for the people of Basqland apparently has clouded his judgement to the point that credibility becomes an issue in the second or third chapter. I had trouble finishing the book. He is an author desperately in need of an editor, fact checker and some balance in his approach to European history.

This book is a social history of the Basque peoples. The main part of the story begins in Roman times, and continues through the 1990s. Kurlansky traces how the seafaring trades of the Basques led them to early financial success. He goes to explain how they became the industrial leaders of Europe for many years. Kurlansky also discusses the rise of Basque nationalism and the contemporary political issues.

One element that makes this book stand out from more traditional history books is its inclusion of recipes. At first, I found this aspect rather odd--was this a cookbook or history, I wondered. However, on further thought, this approach makes perfect sense for a cultural history, since food is one of the strongest cultural traditions. Overall, the book is engaging as well as informative.

Instead of boring you by reiterating the entire contents of the book, let me just say this: This is a good read. It gives a very useful history of the Basque people, their culture, language, and even a few recipes. The recipes are important, as they say a lot about how the Basques have blended into their geography. Read it with an open mind, as most have already made up their minds and labeled the Basques as terrorists. Remember, we had to fight to be what we are today, as well. Only, the Basques deserve their autonomy more-so as they have inhabited their land for a very long time. I don't condone the violence of the ETA, but do understand that desperate situations can often lead to desperate measures.

The content of the book is great. However, the narrator in the Audible version (George Guidall) does a poor job pronouncing Spanish names and words, noticeably detracting from Mr. Kurlansky's work. I'm fluent in both English and Spanish and many times I had trouble understanding the narrator. Please consider replacing him with someone who is bilingual.

Mark Kurlansky, author of 'The Basque History of the World' (Jonathan Cape; 1999) presents one of the most accomplished books on Basque history ever written in English. Kurlansky blends human stories with cultural, political and culinary history. He, like many other authors is attracted by the challenge of the survival of this small country throughout thousands of years.
Kurlansky reveals a different point of view on the Basque people, far from the stereotypes imposed by many modern journalists. The author, as a journalist himself, highlights the Basque's outstanding impact on Europe's historical evolution. "No word less describes Basques than the term separatist...Considering how small a group the Basques are, they have made remarkable contributions to world history", Kurlansky adds.
The modern Basque Country represents a human group constituted by hardly three million people lost in the swarms of the great human
crowds.
A significant fact of the Basque Country is the tenacity for the historical survival, its touch of distinction for the cultural creation, and its collective memory for the development of a social identity. While the world has entered into the Third Millennium, over 650,000 people are speaking a language, Euskera, whose roots can be found in the Stone Age (6,000BC). The Basque sociologist Ruiz de Olabuenaga argues that "something that had defined and is still defining men and women of the Basque society is the conviction that we ourselves must create our own future and that the excellence of the history of this country can be lost. We are a small country but solid, intense, passionate between the unconditional fidelity to our tradition and the
maximum compromise to the ambiguity of the future".
Kurlansky summarizes the aspiration of the Basque people for such historical survival in the final sentence of his book: 'Garean gareana legez' - 'Let us be what we are' - (from Esteban de Garibay, Basque Historian, XVIthC).
P. J. Oiarzabal, Historian
Reno, Nevada, September 2001

I think Kurlansky here is suffering from the success of his book Cod, which would have been a hard act for anyone to follow. Basque History of the World seems like an essentially random series of historical facts. Sometimes they are really interesting facts, such as Franco's anxiousness to get into World War II on the German side and Hitler refusing to admit him to the Axis ("the Germans reasoned that if Spain were an ally, Germany would have to feed its people, arm them, train them, and even, as the Germans had done in the Civil War, fight for them"). It took me three long airplane flights to finish this short book.

The Basque History of the World is a delightful, detailed and non-controversial history of the Basque people and their land(s). Mark Kurlansky has cut through the myths and mis-information surrounding the Basque history, their culture and their traditions to come up with a pretty clear and accurate vision, told in clear and concise prose.
The Basques have a proud history and culture which they are (and should be) proud of - this book captures all this well and truly.
regards,
[email protected]

Kurlansky writes with passion about a people and a land that he loves. All that is admirable, and I did learn more about the mysterious Basque. I was even prepared to forgive the rambling prose which caused me to put down the book on numerous occasions, only to pick it up later, sometimes many months later. (The fantastic cover is probably to thank/blame for the latter: art by Nikolai Punin.) The scattered recipes I could take or leave. But what I most certainly did not want was the one-sided defense of the terrorist organization ETA. Through many of the middle and late chapters in the book, Kurlansky offers a very skewed history of the separatist group's activities, often defending the brutal killings while heaping extra servings of guilt on the Spanish government.

So if you are prepared for the heavy-handed propaganda (whether you agree with the author or not), this could be a 4-star book. Indeed, and in its defense, the book's title (The Basque History of the World) advertises nothing less than a self-centered and self-important perspective, in the same way that the Chinese word for China is "Middle Kingdom." But if you prefer your history lessons cooked evenly, enjoy this with a critical eye and maybe a dose of Mylanta.

Knowing virtually nothing about the Basque people, I recently purchased a paperback edition of Mark Kurlansky's engrossing book entitled, "The Basque History of the World." Prior to my reading of this book my only image of them in my mind's eye was that of a rowboat containing 3 or 4 burly men, heads crowned with berets. Having said that, I do have some positive comments and, unfortunately, a negative one.
Beginning with the positive, I must say that Kurlansky is a very gifted writer. As one reads his account of this fascinating people, he feels as if he has been invited into the home of a friend who regales his visitor with wondrous tales of unknown places and people. I do believe that he knows and loves the Basque people.
Now to go to the negative aspect of this book let us turn to page 70 of the paperback edition. He states, in speaking of Ferdinand, "His union with Isabella had given him, in addition to most of Spain, only a daughter, who was known as Juana La Loca-Juana the Mad." This is a glaring error. In truth, Isabella gave Ferdinand ten children, four of whom lived to adulthood. How could anyone forget that their youngest, Katharine, was the unfortunate first wife of Henry VIII of England? Frankly, I cannot imagine how this got past the editors and other readers! Seeing this error, it caused me to wonder about the authenticity of his other historical statements.
Hating to end on the negative, let us go back to positive thoughts about the book. Regardless of errors I do believe this to be a good place to begin a study of the Basque people. Certainly, Kurlansky makes his subject exciting and interesting. Hey, in preparation for your next dinner party, turn to page 105 of the paperback edition and prepare "Espelette Peppers and Duck Hearts." I just bet you will be unique among your friends for preparing the new and the unusual!
Wrapping it all up, I do think the book worth reading. Just keep in mind that errors can be found, but also you will find much of entertainment and interest in its reading.

David Rengel said it all. However, most of the political material is concentrated in chapter 14, and if you skip it the book is a pleasurable compendium of all things Basque. Its bias and chauvinism are, if you know any Basques, part of its charm; Basques have the reputation of being braggarts and, as the book points out, they have a lot to brag about. But chapter 14 throws the whole thing out of whack by displaying a (wilful?) blindness to what ETA and the abertzale movement are all about. It makes me wonder that an author who has so keenly pegged the fascism of Franco is unable to see the fascism of ETA, for that is surely what it is: the rule of fear. Also that a journalist could fail to mention that his fellow journalists are in ETA's gunsights; just last week another was shot down at his front door for having had the temerity to criticize ETA in print. This is not a romantic group of dashing freedom fighters, but a small, obnoxious cadre of totalitarian thugs who only know how to argue with bullets and bombs. Kurlansky's indulgence of them is shameful. The treatment of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) is also slanted and fails to make the connection between the (as Kurlansky admits) racist rantings of its founder, Sabino Arana, and the exclusionist diatribes of its current leader, Xabier Arzalluz, who for all the world sounds like one more xenophobic politician in the Jean-Marie LePen or Radomir Karadjic mold. The PNV signed accords with ETA which were meant to open discussion of who had the right to be considered a Basque and thus be able to vote (and/or live?) in the Basque country. Arzalluz has said on occasion that only Nationalists fit the requirements. If you're looking for another round of ethnic cleansing to begin anytime soon, watch the Basque country. And wait for a more balanced account of its woes.

I spent about 4 years in the Basque Country (Donostia and Deba). While Mr. Kurlansky has gotten all the little anecdotes right and places Ignatius of Loyola , Elcano, Unamuno and
Pio Baroja in their rightful place as towering figures of Western
Culture and true universalists, this book is severely maimed by a
romanticized and unreal vision of the land it portrays. Especially
when it comes to gloss over the violent tactics of groups such as E.T.A. and others . This group had its moment and its justification but not anymore. Not to advocate terrorism, kill bystanders and use blackmail and extortion. The author misses completely the irony of these groups advocating nationalism, racism and violence (fascism) to promote their agenda. Hitler was just as romantic. It also misses the true "novelty" of the Basques as a nation and Euzkera as a language. The intentions of the Spanish government are always dubious while the "victim" murderers have only the common interest and progress in their mind . In short. his portrait is extremely biased and only one side
of the story. .......

This is a good introduction to the Basques, a nation split between Spain and France. The book goes into many aspects of Basque life, from cooking to economics, but what appears to have engaged the attention of most people is its approach to politics.
It's unavoidable, when writing about the Basques, to write about politics. Both Spain and France want to maintain control over their various parts of the Basque country in various ways. France does it in its own style, by suppressing the Basque language and the economy of the area and hoping the Basques will fade away. Spain tried hamfisted control under the fascism of Franco, but Basque nationalists continued to resist his government and assassinated his chosen successor, leading to the current democratic state in Spain. The Basque region was granted autonomy, though Navarre became its own autonomous region, apart from the other three Spanish provinces. The Francoists and their heirs (like Aznar and the PP) have been trying to keep the Basque country "in line" ever since. Kurlansky discusses how and why the Basque terrorists (ETA) and the government have been fighting ever since.
A lot of the political turmoil and assassinations (by both the Basque nationalists - ETA and the Spanish government - GAL) can be understood as a political "hangover" from Francoism. No one was ever tried for crimes under the dictatorship. All the members of the army who kidnapped, tortured, and murdered Spaniards are still around, slipping gently into retirement. Many of the political players in Franco's reign or their descendants rule Spain through the Popular Party. Judge Garzon is eager to try the crimes of Pinochet, but refuses to bring charges against torturers and murderers in Spain. Until the truth comes out and justice is done, the killing will continue on all sides.
Remember this: Spain is the only country in Europe to proudly display the swastika (Valley of the Fallen outside Madrid), and the only country in Europe that did not have trials over the events in World War II.

Yes, it's an interesting book about an interesting subject but it does seem to go on some tangents. The inclusion of recipes (like I can find baby eels in Fayetteville) gets to be a little annoying at times. A great work to get familiar with this unique people but it's heavily colored by the author's thesis about Basques in the EU. It might be good to supplement it with a more conventional book on Basque folkways and culture.

This book was an excellent read about the Basques, their history, culture, and cuisine. The reviews have centred on Kurlansky's view of ETA. What about the rest of the book? Whales, cod, Elkano, Loyola, Arana, Aguirre, pelota, elvers .... It is amazing to find out the a Basque was the first to circumnavigate the globe, that two Basques founded the Jesuits, that Simon Bolivar was descended from Basques, and so on. Silhouette is a Basque word. Canadians will remember a great football plyer named Sam Etcheverry. Was he, too, as Basque as his name suggests?
I did not think this was a book about ETA. But from the reviews on this page, one would think this was a great big book glorifying terrorism! I have read this book twice. I would suggest you read it too. For once we have the chance to read about a people from their own point of view.
And for those who think there is too much politics in Kurlansky, forget it, life is politics! I will give you some politics for free. Like the Welsh , the Basques have been obliterated from the map for several hundred years. But entities such as "Spain" have only been in existence for a couple of hundred years, while the Basques trace their origins to prehistory. Spain seem to have given up all their colonies except those closest to home. The Spanish did quite a bit to keep this lucrative colony, including using the Luftwaffe to flatten Basque market towns. (Incredible now that they will not allow Picasso's Gernika to be shown in Bilbao.)Trying to kill off the Basque language,a unique tongue unrelated to any known language, was just an immense disservice to humanity.
The Basques (and Welsh,) however, will be there long after Spain and Britain and other empires have ceased to be. Within the European union, there is no longer a need to keep these small nations in subjection and to deny them their rightful place.
Again, I say, ignore the above reviews, read this book, and decide for yourself.

I bought this book in preparation for an upcoming trip to the Basque region of Spain and France. Turns out that I not only learned a lot about the Basque area and the history, but received a new and different historical perspective. The history of Spain is very interesting. As a bonus, one learns a lot about European and World history as well. I recommend the book to anyone either interested in history [especially European history] or anyone preparing to visit Spain.

I have a Basque maiden name (Echazabal, or "big house" in the Basque language) and I loved this affectionate history of the traditions and tenacity of the Basque. Their unfailing courage and their ingenuity are amazing. Kurlansky obviously loves the Basque and their ancient culture and, if you don't mind a few recipes mixed in with your history lessons, this is a very entertaining book. My only complaint is that the complex history of the ETA is given short shrift in the latter chapters. I would have loved more on the people in the ETA, more on the unique Basque language and even a few more recipes. This is a fun book that could have been longer.

Mr Kurlanski makes a terrible mistake: as a historian, he is not only supposed to write well, but also to be accurate. His book is a beautiful piece of writing, no wonder, but it is also an unfair, one-sided report on what is happening in Spain with the Basque problem.
In a chapter called 'Checks and Balances' Mr. Kurlanski exposes the tortures that the ETA (terrorist band) prisoners were suffering in the Spanish jails, but he forgets to talk about the people killed by those prisoners and the huge ammount of families that have been destroyed by them. Saying that the Spanish Government has not overcome the loss of Cuba (1898!) is something that can't work as an excuse to explain the negative of this government to dialogue with the terrorists.
He also forgets to report the absolute craziness of the terrorist band, who in their effort to force the government to a dialogue about their prisoners, has killed some of their own followers, some of their own Basque "nation" fellows. And up we go, with more than a thousand innocent people (policemen, militars, politicians, and recently, butchers, cooks who worked for their own allied institutions) killed by this terrorist band whose members are being tortured in a jail. And I am skipping the kidnapped guys, literally buried in life in rooms where a single coach wouldn't fit.
The Basque problem is an actual open wound in the Spanish society, and lots of Basque fellows want to stay as part of the Spanish society, feeling Basque, but still in the Spanish country.
I am not trying to put the book sales down, but if you buy it, make sure you know that what you are reading is a beautiful piece of literature with some sentences falling close to the surrealism.

Kurlansky's chronicle offers an interesting brush over Basque cuisine and customs contaminated by a biased and incomplete rendering of Euskadi's political history and consensus. While the author illustrated adequate skill in capturing the tastes, smells, and scenery of the Basque country as an observant, curious tourist, I found his one-sided view of Basque nationalism rather offensive. As noted by other readers, the author makes little effort to portray the peaceful Spanish-Basque in the latter part of the book, but rather highlights the violent aspects of Basque nationalists that represent a small minority of the population. The author himself laments that international attention towards the Basque Country is solely related to terrorism, however the author's rendition of Basque political history does little to remove this focus. If Kurlansky subtracted the political motives from the book, and kept to the culture, it would have been an excellent reading for those unfamiliar with the Basque Country.

Mr Kurlansky tries to convince us that despite the brutality in their means, there is an historical reason for Basques to fight their enemies: Spain and France. No need to say that he uses the term Basque when he should have written Basque nationalists, a mistake that many nationalist people would not even notice. Unhappily, this way of thinking is very common among intellectuals who are keen on being above right and wrong: "they are certainly brutal, but there must be a reason for what they are doing. Otherwise, they would not do it. Let us investigate". And the author did so superficially and, apparently, he only listened to people who told him what he wanted to hear, feeding his hunger for a romantic fight to be part of. At the end, the way the author writes our history, the fact that some crucial moments in recent history are simply ignored, the absence of non-nationalistic points of view and the lack of discussion make the book to be poor to me. Just to give an example,the most disgracful episodes in the Spanish democracy (GAL and another dirty state wars) are given the right treatment. On the contrary, fueling paranoiod thoughts, words like Hipercor, Gesto por la Paz, Bakea Orain, Miguel Angel Blanco, Yoyes, Ortega Lara or Julio Iglesias Zamora are not even mentioned. None Basque non-nationalist intellectuals such as Patxo Unzueta, Jon Juaristi, Fernando Savater, Agustin Ibarrola are mentioned or quoted whatsoever. Even Txillida is regarded as nationalist just because he designed the logo for Gestoras pro amnistia! He should have asked Txillida about this. What can you expect when, at the very beginning of the book, the author says that "Basque Country is too green to be Spain and to rough to be France". I call this ignorance, dangerous ignorance. As a Basque, broght up in Basque schools, and as a leftist progressive man that I am (calm down, I am not a PSOE suppoter at all: I dislike the third ways), this book is an absolute disgraceful nonsense.

I enjoyed this book until I reached the last chapters.

These last chapters (20th century) offer a very biased account of Spanish and Basque history. Misrepresentations range from mere embellishments about Basque contributions, to suspicious omissions (e.g. the most unpopular actions of the Basque ETA are not mentioned), to outright falsehoods, even about facts that can be easily checked online (e.g. the results of the Spanish Constitutional referendum of 1978 in Catalonia and Galicia, Maastricht and the EU, and so on in a long list).

All in all, I am disappointed because a case for Basque independence can be made without resorting to falsehoods. If you are really interested in Spanish and Basque history in the 20th century I suggest Raymond Carr and Paul Preston, both of them recommended by Kurlansky in the appendix (I wonder if he ever read their books).

Another anecdote that bothered me is his account of Elcano's role in the mutiny against Magellan. Grab Bergreen's "Over the Edge of the World" for a truthful and well documented account of the event.

This could have been a very nice book indeed, and so I hoped having throughly enjoyed "Cod" While the author suceeds in giving a sense of basque history and culture (specially good are chapters on fishing, whaling and food), the book is seriously spoilt by its badly substantiated political intent. I doubt not that the writer has as good a knowledge of the basque country as the next foreigner, and his unaccuracy just goes to show how complex the basque situation is. As someone who was born, bred and grown in the Basque Country (not a "basque" as I have no basque name and don't speak the language) I was dismayed at some of the affirmations of the book and some of the serious omissions, as mentioned by other readers. I love basque history and culture, and above all I love basque people. They deserve better than this. It is evident that this book was writen with love too. But the result is simply wrong: it glorifies the actions of a bunch of cruel assassins whom are hated by the majority of the basques. A very irresponsible thing to do.

Kurlansky offers a romantic view of the Basque history and culture. A romantic view that has always been, and still is, in the root of the Basque nationalism (and, perhaps, of all nationalisms). There is nothing new here. It is old tale about the fight of Aitor, Amaya and the candid and dignified Basque people against their evil neighbors. It is the old tale invented by nationalists at the end of nineteen century. Kurlansky connects with this literary tradition, that had been interrupted for almost a century, but that had been transmitted by word of mouth. I have heard myself some of these tales from my Aita, my Ama or my Aitite. As a tale, it is fascinating. Any reader who do not know about Basque history, or who is willing to accept the book as a romantic tale, would find it very appealing. But as history, it is tremendously biased. However, the worse of the book are the political implications that the author tries to extract from the romantic tale that he heard and was delighted to believe as true. Personally I prefer soap operas. Nobody kills for them.

A generally interesting overview of most things Basque; literature, history, food, politics, art. Would have liked to see more emphasis on the source questions; where did the Basque come from? It's touched on, but it seems likely that DNA study (especially mitochondrial DNA) would give us some fairly good ideas. Recipes are an interesting touch to the book. I think the author has a fairly sympathetic view of ETA, more than is justified by their actions over the past few years. Still, a good introduction to the subject.

This book is an excellent introduction for someone ignorant in the subject. The Basque problem has always been misunderstood and misread either by the own Basques or by the outsiders. As someone has described it: a labyrinth of 'definitions' and 'codes'.
The author accounts very faithfully to the facts, the origins, misfortunes and historical adventures of the Basque people along the path of the Iberian idiosyncrasy. Very objectively, he stays aside from any political remark, completing the book with a nihilistic thought: 'a quimera'.
A good book, written by a comprenhesive journalist.

Unfortunately Mr Kurlansky has fell victim of a child-like version of the history of the world.
Whoever reads this book will not understand anything of the current strugle of the majority of the basques, trying to leave in peace and freedom in a region with more self-government than any german lander. Nor will they understand why several basque university profesors have fled to the United States looking for a secure place where they can speak and writte their own minds.
Mr Kurlansky pastoral and bucolic depiction of a preexisting paradise inhabited by guilt free, innocent beings living in a natural beatifull landscape and enjoying the most delicious dishes from bountifull mother hearth that suddenly is perturbed by the invasion of a foreign race is, unfortunately, a common feature of other histories of the world where there is a chosen people, a race that used to be pure and is threatened to be contaminated. It is also unfortunately similar to other accounts of history, from white supremacists to serbian propaganda, in which many small details are wrigth but the whole picture is wrong.
Mr Kurlansky mixing of landscape and food with uncritical accounts of crimes does provide for bad literature but does not help in the pursuit of thruth. He is, at best, a naive an impresionable nature, and, at worst, a travel companion of a small group of basques that follow, yes an ancient tradition in human kind, racism.
Anybody seriously interested in learning what is happening in the Basque country, should instead read the books from , perhaps the most important philosopher in Spain today, himself a Basque, Fernando Savater, who just received the European Parlament Sajarov Human Rights Award for his contribution.
Tragically the same mixture that Mr Kurlansky blends in his book is the account of the last crime of this group of Basques. In the beatifull landscape of Guipuzcoa a cook was blown to bits by a mine under his car. He will not be able anymore to prepare the delicious recipes that Mr Kurlansky blends with his bland account of history.

kurlansky does a wonderful job telling the history and describing the basque culture to readers. after having spent several months in bilbao, the basque culture is something that i learned to love and appreciate. kurlansky captures the essence of this sometimes hard to explain culture.

for most parts of the book Kurlansky does give vvv interesting information on the Basques, their laguage, culture and their aspirations and mindset.... the book portrays the world through the eyes of the Basque people.... however is not a history on the Basques per se....

For the first two thirds of this book is basically an antidotal cultural history of the Basque. The light style and treatment of the subject are engaging.

However, slowly and by degrees the book spawns a naive ETA apologist essay of sorts that smoothly threads its way through the continuing cultural discussions of the Basque.

The author blames the victims of ETA for the violence by implying that Spain is bringing ETA violence down on itself by insisting that total independence for the Basque regions of Spain is not negotiable and insisting ETA renounce violence.

The author indulges in hand wringing and whining about anti-terrorist Spanish legislation that allows the authorities to hold a terrorist suspect ten days incommunicado without charges. The book was written pre 9/11 (and pre 3/11) and consequently the author's arguments come across as rather limp in view of current events.

He also believes that if Spain negotiates or grants more autonomy that ETA will simply "disappear." I can't tell whether the author is a dupe or just unbelievably naive. Since this book was written in 1999 Spain has granted more autonomy and guess what? ETA hasn't gone anywhere and is still murdering people.

This author also talks about ETA and the Catalonia aspirations for more autonomy in the same breath. Gee I don't remember the Catalans murdering 800+ people.

He also implies that the 40 odd Basques killed are somehow no more reprehensible than the 800+ Spaniards murdered by ETA. If you follow his logic you arrive at moral equations like 1 ETA terrorist killed in a gunfight = 20 civilians killed with a car bomb.

He also adroitly avoids pesky topics like-

Who exactly are the ETA terrorists?

If they share the same aspiration as the Catalans why did they plant a bomb in a supermarket in Catalonia and kill Catalan women and children?

What about ETA internal violence? ETA has purged some of his own over the years. Why avoid that potentially interesting topic?

How is ETA financed?

Is it extortion you think?

Why detail alleged police abuse of ETA suspects and not the ETA war tax?

Why do successful Basques in the Basque provinces avoid any outward show of wealth? They are afraid of being kidnapped for ransom or having their war tax increased that's why. The author apparently didn't deign to talk to any of these people or any of the family members of Basque entrepreneurs who were brutalized for not paying their war tax.

Following a line of inquiry like this might force the author to examine inconvenient questions like, what is ETA's overall economic impact on the region?

With so many capable motivated and well educated workers, is ETA why international investors and companies avoid the Basque provinces like the plague?

The author talks at length about the Guggenheim in Bilbo, how it was paid for, it's relative architectural value, the local support it had, etc. without mentioning that ETA tried to bomb it when it opened and shot and killed a policeman near the entrance. How did this further the goals of ETA?

No wonder no one in Spain or anywhere else is crazy to visit it.

Why talk about GAL's mercenary nature and international component and not about ETA's international operations and links?

Like the seamy links with the IRA and the old un-rehabilitated Gadaffii.

And what about the contract hit they did (unsuccessfully) for the Sandinistas on Eden Pastora?

What about the huge ETA arsenal that accidentally blew up in Panama?

An ETA operative there had acquired the largest arsenal in non-governmental hands ever discovered according to press reports.

Has the author nothing to say about the worldwide network of ETA (often using a Basque restaurant as a front) that funnels arms and money back to their compatriots in Spain?

With an international organization and extensive infrastructure like this it seems to me like they are planning to hang around awhile and have no more intention of "disappearing" than Al Qaeda.

So what is the future of ETA if you reach the wild conclusion that they may not just simply "disappear"?

In the unlikely event an independent Basque country came about might ETA try to install themselves in power by force? The author admits they are Marxist in nature and only a small minority of Basques support their actions, so it seems contrived that this topic is never broached.

These topics, despite their interesting nature and many sides, might make ETA appear less noble and more like a greedy band of blood thirsty thugs so the author simply ignores them.

Anyone who has even a cursory knowledge of ETA knows that they are about as altruistic as the mafia. The author takes great care in contorting his little history to hide this fact. To me, this is totally unacceptable reporting. I will not buy another of his books.

If as many latinamericans you have have a Basque surname and don't know what to make of it, you owe it to yourself to read this book: You will be amazed at the disproportionate contribution that the Basque people has made to history, that may very well be a piece of your family's history, if only in a distant and romantic way. Feel free to brag! As a bonus, if you actually do have Basque blood in your veins, you may even recognize some of your character traits that could be difficult to explain otherwise! A thoroughly enjoyable book.

Biased and self centered as it gets. Again, a foreign party sees the "romaticism" of basque nationalism , ignoring the 858 victims ETA has killed.

Identifying "basque" with nationalist is denying the history of the basque. Nationalism in the basque country only appeared in the 19th century, heavily influenced by catalonian nationalism. To say that the basque have been opressed throughout history is a lie.

But it s very pintoresque to portray them as some sort of heroes ... the ffod is good, the sights are beautiful, but we basques are ignoring the victims, and around 300.000 basques that left the country because of threats , extorsion , and murder on their relatives. Those of us , basque through and through, that do not get a vote there, because we we told to leave or face the consequences.

I don t find any of that in the history by Mr. Kurlansky.

This is a very informative book about Basques history and culture. It is amazing how much influence this small group has had in the world. The recipes sound good, but probably many vital ingredients are unavailable in the U.S.

Although there are some exaggerations and misunderstandings about both our country and our people, this book is a good guide for those who want to know the Basques better and to understand what is going on in this corner of Europe.

This very readable book will greatly enhance a visit to the Guggenheim in Bilbao and touring in the surrounding area. The Basque region is geographically and culturally very different from the rest of Spain. Much of it's history is unknown to the ordinary traveller history buff. Kurlansky's book will be a pleasure to have along.