Rating: 
Summary: Cookbook or History
Review: This book as well as this author's other book, "COD", contain a wealth of information about cooking recipes, and it does not mix well with the historical section. This author has to decide if he wants to write a cookbook or a history book. It makes this reader hesitant to take on another book by this author entitled "Salt" , because a history of salt may bring an overwhelming list of recipes. If the reader can ignore the history v.s. cookbook controversy, then the historical section is good writing, very interesting and informative. It seems civilizations, and conquerors may come and go, but the Basques remain, always attempting to remain true to their laws and traditions. A small fringe Basque group employs violent terrorist tactics with the aim of forming a separate Basque nation. The author conveys historical sympathy with majority of peaceful Basque people against the failed policies of the central Spanish government. His view is that they are often portrayed as scapegoats. I thought this sympathy may be a case of the author becoming a little too close to his subject matter and losing his objectivity, until the recent spate of train bombings in Spain. The Spanish government's first suspect was announced to be the Basque separatist movement, but later it was discovered to be Islamic extremists. All in all, it was a very worthwhile book dealing to inform oneself about the Basques and Basque history.
Rating: 
Summary: Changed my ideas and pre-conceptions about the Basque Nation
Review: You hear about Basques in newspapers all the time: ussually about some violent situation attributed to them. What you don't hear in the 10pm news is what these people have done for humanity, and how the good Basques have to pay up for the violence and errors made by the few ill behaved ones. Mark Kurlansky fixes that.The Author correlates the history of this little understood/known group of people, and how they have iteracted with neighboring countries, and how they have helped shape the world as we know it today. Great history book, and entertaining as well. Now I must read "Salt" and "Cod".
Rating:
Summary: Changed my ideas and pre-conceptions about the Basque Nation
Review: You hear about Basques in newspapers all the time: ussually about some violent situation attributed to them. What you don't hear in the 10pm news is what these people have done for humanity, and how the good Basques have to pay up for the violence and errors made by the few ill behaved ones. Mark Kurlansky fixes that. The Author correlates the history of this little understood/known group of people, and how they have iteracted with neighboring countries, and how they have helped shape the world as we know it today. Great history book, and entertaining as well. Now I must read "Salt" and "Cod".
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