Spains North Coast: From Santiago to San Sebastian
Explore Spain's dramatic North Coast from Santiago to San Sebastian with our curated reading list. Discover the region's rich culture and history, featuring Mark Kurlansky's compelling The Basque History of the World. Perfect for travelers and book lovers seeking coastal Spain insights.
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The Basque History of the World
by Mark Kurlansky
"A lively, anecdotal, all-encompassing history of Basque ingenuity and achievement." âAtlantic Monthly From Mark Kurlansky, the bestselling author of Cod, Salt, Birdseye, and Paperâthe illuminating story of an ancient and enigmatic people Straddling a small corner of Spain and France in a land that is marked on no maps except their own, the Basques are a puzzling contradictionâthey are Europe's oldest nation without ever having been a country. No one has ever been able to determine their origins, and even the Basques' language, Euskeraâthe most ancient in Europeâis related to none other on earth. For centuries, their influence has been felt in nearly every realm, from religion to sports to commerce. Even today, the Basques are enjoying what may be the most important cultural renaissance in their long existence, as displayed by new cookbooks like chefs Alexandra Raij and Eder Montero's The Basque Book and restaurateur Jose Pizarroâs Basque. Mark Kurlansky's passion for the Basque people and his exuberant eye for detail shine throughout this fascinating book. Like Cod, The Basque History of the World, blends human stories with economic, political, literary, and culinary history into a rich and heroic tale. Among the Basques' greatest accomplishments: ⢠Explorationâthe first man to circumnavigate the globe, Juan Sebastian de Elcano, was a Basque and the Basques were the second Europeans, after the Vikings, in North America ⢠Gastronomy and agricultureâthey were the first Europeans to eat corn and chili peppers and cultivate tobacco, and were among the first to use chocolate ⢠ReligionâIgnatius Loyola, a Basque, founded the Jesuit religious order ⢠Business and politicsâthey introduced capitalism and modern commercial banking to southern Europe ⢠Recreationâthey invented beach resorts, jai alai, and racing regattas, and were the first Europeans to play sports with balls "Entertaining and instructive⌠[Kurlanskyâs] approach is unorthodox, mixing history with anecdotes, poems with recipes.â âThe New York Times Book Review
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Insight Pocket Guide Bilbao and Northwest Spain (Insight Pocket Guides Bilboa and Northwest Spain)
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