Meh. This book was a real slog to get through -- I only finished because I feel honor-bound to finish what I start. I'm not sure why I found it such a slog, though. I guess I just couldn't get interested in the topic, though by any estimation it's the kind of thing that OUGHT to interest me. And what's with all the recipes? But if you look at a list of Kurlansky's books it's clear he's very interested in food.

Regardless, I feel that my issues with the book were my own issues, and not the fault of the author's. I did enjoy his book on salt.

In other words, I guess...just don't pay any attention to this review?

This book is about one of the most ancient regions the world can remember, and about a nice collection of facts about it. Not only can we find here a chronology of the Basque Country, but it also speaks about its people, traditions, songs and recipes. Kurlansky fixes many different aspects into a single and captivating story.

What I really liked about 'The Basque History of the World' is that I have learnt some things I didn't know, and in a way that was moving page after page. This book doesn't offer a detailed knowledge: its objective is more focused on teaching from the affection the author has toward the Basques. That's why we can find an interest to make everything vivid and provided with a sense in the cultural sum, the reason why recipes and references to local people appear so many times through the pages. Personally, I find it as a very recommendable introduction to those who want to learn more about our past.

However, it is not without criticism. The story is quite unequal given the fact that half of the timeline talks about the last 50 years. Moreover, it can also be added that there are many important people and milestones within the Basque history that do not appear at all, impoverishing the outcome. Finally, the pace sometimes seems awkward because of the strange partition of the chapters and the optional notes that are in the middle of essential parts of the narration. It is a curious book with a noticeable title, but nothing compared to any other books that talk properly about Basque history.

The Basque Country, also known as Euskal Herria, consists of the four provinces of the Basque Autonomous Community (Euskadi) in northern Spain (Vizcaya, Guipúzcoa, Alava and Navarra) and three adjacent ones (Labourd, Basse Navarre and Soule) in southwestern France (Pays Basque). The Basque people are believed to be one of the oldest European cultures that are still in existence, and Euskera, the language spoken by the Basques, is the oldest surviving pre-Indo-European language in western Europe and has very little in common with Castilian Spanish or French. The Basque people, especially those in the Spanish portion of the region, have longed and fought fiercely for independence and, more importantly, self governance for centuries, using the Fueros, or regional civil laws, that were agreed upon nearly 500 years ago. The region is known for its cultural traditions including the sport of jai alai, the stunning beach resorts in San Sebastián and Biarritz that are popular tourist destinations, and its outstanding cuisine, particularly pintxos, chorizo and salt cod, which all originated there.

The American journalist Mark Kurlansky's fondness and knowledge of the Basque Region shines in this excellent book, which traces the history and traditions of Euskal Herria from its earliest known days to the end of the 20th century, including its major figures such as Ignacio de Loyola, the priest and theologian who founded the Jesuit religious order; Sabino Arana, the founder of Basque nationalism; and Bernardo Atxaga (Joseba Irazu Garmendia), the first Basque author to receive worldwide acclaim for his work, most notably  Obabakoak, a collection of short stories set in the fictional Basque village of Obaba. Kurlansky also describes the region's rich whaling and shipbuilding traditions, the 1937 bombing of the town of Guernica (Gernika) by German planes, Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), the Basque separatist and terrorist group that has maintained its cease fire agreement with the Spanish government since 2010, and the foods that are unique to the region, including at least half a dozen recipes. The focus of the book is on the Spanish Basques, although he does dedicate one chapter to the Pays Basco, who are much more integrated into French government and society.

The Basque History of the World is a readable and entertaining look into this fascinating culture, which was a reasonable length at 400 pages. This was a perfect introduction to my upcoming first visit to the Basque Region, and I highly recommend it to anyone who plans to travel there or is interested in learning more about its people.

The Basques are a nation that has never had a country. They speak an ancient, non-Indo-European language of unknown origin. They have flourished since pre-Roman times along the border of France and Spain on the Bay of Bascay, dominating various industries like cod fishing, whaling, iron, steel, and ship building. Catalonia and the Basque country are the most economically robust regions in Spain and are also the two that have agitated for independence.

Over 80% of Basques live in Spain, with the rest in France, which has assimilated them more fully.
The Basque country is a beautiful, green, hilly land of mountains and beaches that we visited as I was reading this book, just as Spain slid into a constitutional crisis over a Catalonian independence referendum. The Basque independence movement may be reawakened by the Catalonian situation.

Author Mark Kurlansky is perhaps best known for his highly rated book on cod. That is a related topic, both to the Basques and to Canada, where I live and to whose Grand Banks the Basque fishing boats used to sail. The Canadian cod fishery closed due to overfishing and has not re-opened.

The book enlightened me about the Spanish Civil War and the Franco period, about which I would like to read more.

I enjoyed Kurlansky's writing style and will probably seek out his cod book, but I thought his "Basque History of the World" could have been about 20% shorter with better editing. The chapters jump around a bit randomly.