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More copies of this ISBN:This title in other formats:Nathaniel's Nutmeg: Or, the True and Incredible Adventure of the Spice Trader Who Changed the Course of Historyby Giles Milton
Staff Pick
Like Nathaniel's Nutmeg: Or, the True and Incredible Adventure of the Spice Trader Who Changed the Course of History, Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time, and other enjoyable histories that explore the indelible influences of a singular topic, Tom Standage takes the subject of beverages and proposes that the ages have each had their signature drink. Here he explores the defining drinks of six periods of history each filled with a kaleidoscope of fascinating detail. This wholly entertaining and layered read is as informative as it is thirst-building. Now go treat yourself to a frosty mug of ale and savor the history. Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:A true tale of high adventure in the South Seas. The tiny island of Run is an insignificant speck in the Indonesian archipelago. Just two miles long and half a mile wide, it is remote, tranquil, and, these days, largely ignored. Yet 370 years ago, Run's harvest of nutmeg (a pound of which yielded a 3,200 percent profit by the time it arrived in England) turned it into the most lucrative of the Spice Islands, precipitating a battle between the all-powerful Dutch East India Company and the British Crown. The outcome of the fighting was one of the most spectacular deals in history: Britain ceded Run to Holland but in return was given Manhattan. This led not only to the birth of New York but also to the beginning of the British Empire. Such a deal was due to the persistence of one man. Nathaniel Courthope and his small band of adventurers were sent to Run in October 1616, and for four years held off the massive Dutch navy. Nathaniel's Nutmeg centers on the remarkable showdown between Courthope and the Dutch Governor General Jan Coen, and the brutal fate of the mariners racing to Run-and the other corners of the globe-to reap the huge profits of the spice trade. Written with the flair of a historical sea novel but based on rigorous research, Nathaniel's Nutmeg is a brilliant adventure story by a writer who has been hailed as the "new Bruce Chatwin" (Mail on Sunday). Review:"An exciting account of the dangerous voyages, bizarre transactions and desperate battles of the Spice Wars." The Washington Post Review:"Fascinating...an epic tale, told superbly...There is plenty of gore, chance, and piracy to the story." The Wall Street Journal Review:"This is a high adventure — pirates and cannons and pieces of eight....A work of prodigious research, and a fascinatingly seminal tidbit of New York history." New York Newsday Review:"[A] rousing historical romp. Milton leaves one both yearning for a time when the world seemed full of infinite adventure and appalled by what greed did to such a paradise." The New York Times Book Review Synopsis:This "rousing, historical romp" ("The New York Times Book Review") introducesreaders to Run, a tiny island in the middle of an Indonesian archipelago--andthe fierce spice wars that surrounded it. NPR sponsorship. What Our Readers Are SayingAdd a comment for a chance to win!
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