{"product_id":"the-basque-history-of-the-world-the-story-of-a-nation-9780140298512","title":"The Basque History of the World: The Story of a Nation","description":"\u003cb\u003eFrom Mark Kurlansky, the bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eCod\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSalt\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBirdseye\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003ePaper\u003c\/i\u003e--the illuminating story of an ancient and enigmatic people \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eStraddling a small corner of Spain and France in a land that is marked on no maps except their own, the Basques are a puzzling contradiction--they 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, Euskera--the most ancient in Europe--is 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 \u003ci\u003eThe Basque Book \u003c\/i\u003eand restaurateur Jose Pizarro's \u003ci\u003eBasque\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cp\u003eMark Kurlansky's passion for the Basque people and his exuberant eye for detail shine throughout this fascinating book. Like \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCod\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Basque History of the World\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003c\/b\u003eblends human stories with economic, political, literary, and culinary history into a rich and heroic tale.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong the Basques' greatest accomplishments: \u003c\/p\u003e - Exploration--the 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 \u003cbr\u003e - Gastronomy and agriculture--they were the first Europeans to eat corn and chili peppers and cultivate tobacco, and were among the first to use chocolate \u003cbr\u003e - Religion--Ignatius Loyola, a Basque, founded the Jesuit religious order \u003cbr\u003e - Business and politics--they introduced capitalism and modern commercial banking to southern Europe \u003cbr\u003e - Recreation--they invented beach resorts, jai alai, and racing regattas, and were the first Europeans to play sports with balls \u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A delectable portrait of an uncanny, indomitable nation.\" -Newsday\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Exciting, Illuminating, and thought provoking.\" -The Boston Globe\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEntertaining and instructive...  Kurlansky's] approach is unorthodox, mixing history with anecdotes, poems with recipes.\" -The New York Times Book Review\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=AUTH-192636\"\u003eMark Kurlansky\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Penguin Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/01\/2001\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 400\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.58lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.71h x 5.10w x 0.77d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780140298512\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0140298517\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC Categories:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-HIS\"\u003eHistory\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-HIS010020\"\u003eWestern Europe | General\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-HIS\"\u003eHistory\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-HIS045000\"\u003eEurope | Spain\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMark Kurlansky is the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of many books, including \u003ci\u003eThe Food of a Younger Land\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eCod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World\u003c\/i\u003e; \u003ci\u003eSalt: A World History\u003c\/i\u003e; \u003ci\u003e1968: The Year That Rocked the World\u003c\/i\u003e; and \u003ci\u003eThe Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell\u003c\/i\u003e. He lives in New York City.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42699122147565,"sku":"9780140298512","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/8097\/6621\/products\/img_5a3fd444-f251-4699-a8f6-123cca750c3b.jpg?v=1649911837","url":"https:\/\/sureshotbooks.com\/products\/the-basque-history-of-the-world-the-story-of-a-nation-9780140298512","provider":"SureShot Books Publishing LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}