Cod - A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World

One of my favourite genre of reading material  (after angling books • of course) is the 'quirky' historical book. Well researched tales and well told accounts of long  forgotten stories. 'Longitude,' about he clock maker Harrison, and 'Nanthaniel's Nutmeg' spring to mind. I would also put Cod into the same category - though it could just as easily be classified under marine biology - or ecology, the second half of the book, being as it is, a requiem to Man's abuse of nature's fecundity. The book also won Best Food Book at the 1999 Glennfiddich Food & Drink awards - there being a liberal sprinkling of cod recipes (mainly historical ones) through out the work.

Regardless of its taxonomy, this book is a fascinating read. What at first glance may be slightly obscure subject matter is actually a thoroughly engrossing story.  Kurlansky weaves the part cod and cod fishing has had to play in all sorts of seemingly unconnected events, for example he makes a good case for the Basques to have discovered North America 500 years before Columbus.

Facts and insights like this drip off the page and it says something for Kurlansky's writing style that the book is quite ‘unputdownable’ - you could quite easily end up reading it in a single sitting. I suspect the book may also turn one into something of a bore!! You will undoubtedly feel the urge to look up from your page, turn to your spouse/loved one or any one prepared to listen and start a sentence "Did you realise...?"

Something else that strikes you is  the breadth and meticulousness of Kurlansky's  research. And he is to be commended for converting that research into such a readable form. However, despite all the historical tidbits the books lasting impression is a salutary lesson in what happens when man abuses nature. A thoroughly recommended read.

Chris Plumb

Cod - A biography of the fish that changed the world. Mark Kurlansky.
Vintage 1999. ISBN 0 09 926870 1
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