The Basque History of the World

By: Mark Kurlansky

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 12 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

"The singular remarkable fact about the Basques is that they still exist," best selling author Mark Kurlansky says. The Basque people truly believe they should live in their own private country. This book includes their entire history, from their political and war involvement, to culinary taste, to economic and social life.

Inhabiting the small corner where France meets Spain, the Basque speak their own language, Euskera. Evidence of their culture showed up as early as 218 BC, and now, with a population of 2.4 million, their influence on our world has been all-pervasive. Listeners will be enthralled as Kurlansky delves into the roots of an intriguing population, and shows us why they continue.

Enjoy Mark Kurlansky's books? Listen to an interview with the author on To the Best of Our Knowlege.

©1999 Mark Kurlansky (P)2002 New Millennium Audio, All Rights Reserved

Critic Reviews

"Entertaining and instructive...[Kurlansky] intersperses his political and military chronicle with lively anecdotes and digressions." (The New York Times Book Review)
"A delectable portrait of an uncanny, indomitable nation." (Newsday)

An eye opener that will break your heart

The great sociological heartbreakers of recent times include the betrayals of the American Indians during the entire 19th century and the betrayal of the Kurds and Armenians and the Kosavars in the Treaty of Paris after WW I led to the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. Interestingly, the future of Basque nation was also an issue brought to the Great Four at the time of Versailles; it was handled as superficially as were the various nation within the former Ottoman Empire. This book details the long series of agonizing disappointments the Basque people have endured, but even more importantly it describes the heights to which the Basques rose during their long history. These are generally unknown to Americans and I suspect to most Europeans too, both among the neighbors of the Basques and among those who live at greater distances. A "page turner" you'll listen to without being able to wait for the next installment you'll have time to hear. First class writing; first class narrating.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

A cultural excursion worth taking

Most peoples of the world have struggled to overcome geography, politics, cultural invasion, etc. and most have lost the vitality of their roots. Mark Kurlansky provides a compelling and well researched and reasoned description of the Basques and their extraordinary culture and history. Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Master Work

First it did hit me that the title was: The BASQUE History of the World... and not A History of the Basque. Perfectly named because you will end up seeing things from a Basque viewpoint..and that is very hard for just anyone to write without getting inside the culture itself.
This was a masterwork.
So I guess I wasn't surprised when I realize who the author was and that I have enjoyed every one of his books.
I will never delete this work from my reading library.
Enjoyable reading, great reference - and not a bad bit of ethnic cooking - as a person of Italian descent - food TELLS volumes about a people.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Fascinating

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was very informative and an entertaining listen; whilst not caring for the recipes they were few. previously I was completely ignorant concerning Basque history and culture; which is probably the case for most Europeans. One of the oldest surving European cultures, but very much alive. I very much liked the telling of so much world history from another perspective. I am inspired to visit the region now.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

An enduring people

Mark Kurlansky is a fantastic author, and his books have been gateways to understanding for me. This book is no exception. It is an excellent history of an enduring people.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

My family is from bilbao

I am more than delighted to have learned about my heritage it is a great book and would encourage all basque heritage to read it

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A Bit too Biased

This is supposed to be the history of the Basques. The writer, however, is too besotted by his subject matter to give an objective account of the Basque history. While Spanish duplicity and violence is given great attention, the same cannot be said for the Basque responses to Spanish actions or instances of Basque provocation. I'm still looking for a better history book or books regarding the Iberian peninsula.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Good prep for Camino

I read most of this book before setting off on the Camino de Santiago. It was great prep for understanding what I was seeing while walking through Basque country. I wish I could see the recipes written down, though!

Excellent history of little known group

Very, very well written history of the Basques. Goes into great cultural and historical depth and how it affects even current day France and Spain. My first book I have read by this offer, and it was a great read. Amazing amount of research to put this book together.

We listened to this as we drove through Euskadia

One of my fondest memories of our wandering travels was when we had this book as an audio companion in our rental car as we drove through the Basque areas. Kurlansky;s description of the people, the food and the history of the area was an enrichment I hadn't planned. I meant to listen to this book before we went on our 16 day driving trip, but I ended up packing this and bringing it along on our trip. My husband and I had a great education that helped bring context to the places we were driving through. Bayonne, San Sebastian, Getaria, Pamplona and Bilbao, places that were little pieces of our general understanding of history and literature through our lives became richer from listening to this book. And, the description of Guernica in the book that came as we were driving into Guernica made this indescribable. This may have not been a scholarly tome that some listeners were expecting, but our experience was wonderful, and has led us to a great appreciation of the people who culturally have always been in and from this area.