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Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World

ebooks Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky in History

Description

Stretching from the Ice Ages to the present day; this masterful account traces the political; social and cultural history of the land that has come to be called Wales. Spanning prehistoric hill forts and Roman ruins to the Reformation; the Industrial Revolution and the series of strikes by Welsh miners in the late twentieth century; this is the definitive history of an enduring people: a unique and compelling exploration of the origins of the Welsh nation; its development and its role in the modern world. This new edition brings this remarkable history into the new era of the Welsh Assembly.


#16822 in Books Mark Kurlansky 1998-07-01 1998-07-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.09 x .52 x 5.07l; .43 #File Name: 0140275010294 pagesCod A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World


Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Excellent ReadBy KennPettyI found the book Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World fascinating as the author stepped me through the history of Man searching for Cod to feed a burgeoning population in Europe and the nationalistic forces at work as well as the technological advances in fishing methods that allowed for ever growing catches while the fish stocks were dwindling over time due to overfishing. The fact that explorers who "discovered" North America found basque fishing vessels already there was another interesting fact. The book is also filled with recipes and interesting anecdotes to help the reader understand how much the Cod has been an enabler in Western cultural development. The information on the development of Iceland into a modern western country during and after World War II and the "Cod Wars" between Iceland and Great Britain were interesting and to my surprise have come up in recent news reports about fishing quota disagreements between Iceland and the European Union. The writing is accessible and well done. As a comprehensivist I appreciated the well-crafted narrative that weaves all the connections between history; biology; technology; the rise of nations and geopolitical forces into a rich tapestry with a panoramic scope of interconnectedness. I look forward to reading his next book Salt: A World History which I just bought.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. An incredible history; but not always a gripping readBy Bradley NelsonAs a chef and history buff; this book seemed like it would be right up my alley. And I will admit that many portions of the book were utterly fascinating; specifically those regarding the complete history of cod fishing and the very nature of the cod itself.However; this book is not just a history of cod. It has an agenda; admittedly a good one; to protect the cod of the northern Atlantic. I'm all for that; but I didn't read this book to be convinced of that. The entire last chapter is essentially an emotional sob story of former cod fisherman; unable to do the work of their forefathers. Kudos to Kurlansky for that; but it felt like it belonged in a newspaper op-ed page; not a historical work.Aside from that; there are also a couple chapters that were a bit tough to get through; which may not be Kurlansky's fault; but perhaps of the subject itself. It's a small book and only took a couple days to get through; but unless this is a topic that immediately strikes your fancy; you might not finish it. But for any chef or history buff; I would still recommend this book; as it offers some pretty critical insight into a fish that really did change the world.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Reminds us that history is often made by economicsBy Wayne A. SmithThe author presents a readable overview of a fish that really did change the world. Kurlansky shows that while "great men" often drive history; resources and economics dictate the range of their choices and as often as not give a strong clue as to the probable direction of events.That said; this book gives tantalizing views of one of mankind's toughest and most dangerous industries - fishing. The reader may well appreciate the juxtaposition of gritty cod town life and the movement of nations in search of this most perfect food source. The book moves along quickly.

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