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Salt: A World History

by Mark Kurlansky
Salt: A World History

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ISBN13: 9780142001615
ISBN10: 0142001619
Condition: Standard


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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

Mark Kurlansky, the bestselling author of Cod and The Basque History of the World, here turns his attention to a common household item with a long and intriguing history: salt. The only rock we eat, salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning, and its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of humankind. A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured empires, and inspired revolutions. Populated by colorful characters and filled with an unending series of fascinating details, Kurlansky's kaleidoscopic history is a supremely entertaining, multi-layered masterpiece.

Review

"Throughout his engaging, well-researched history, Kurlansky sprinkles witty asides and amusing anecdotes. A piquant blend of the historic, political, commercial, scientific and culinary, the book is sure to entertain as well as educate." Publishers Weekly

Review

"Kurlansky thinks big....This is the big story Kurlansky unfolds in chapters that proceed from time immemorial to the present and cover such specific topics as 'Salt's Salad Days' in ancient Rome....Tasty, very tasty!" Ray Olson, Booklist (Starred Review)

Review

"Kurlansky exhaustively documents every salt-related twist and turn of world history, but that becomes problematic....History's cyclical repetitions can be worth investigating, but much of Salt's timeline-marking activity could have been collapsed into one lengthy chapter and spiked with more analysis." Noel Murray, The Onion A.V. Club

Review

"[A] remarkable book....While homemakers and master chefs alike should enjoy this book, it's also likely to consume the interest of those who survive on TV dinners." Alan Prince, BookPage

About the Author

Mark Kurlansky is the author of Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World and The Basque History of the World. Cod received a James Beard Award for Excellence in Food Writing and was a New York Times bestseller.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION The Rock 1
PART ONE A Discourse on Salt, Cadavers, and Pungent Sources
CHAPTER ONE A Mandate of Salt 17
CHAPTER TWO Fish, Fowl, and Pharoahs 36
CHAPTER THREE Saltmen Hard as Codfish 52
CHAPTER FOUR Salt's Salad Days 61
CHAPTER FIVE Salting It Away in the Adriatic 80
CHAPTER SIX Two Ports and the Prosciutto in Between 91
PART TWO The Glow of Herring and the Scent of Conquest
CHAPTER SEVEN Friday's Salt 109
CHAPTER EIGHT A Nordic Dream 129
CHAPTER NINE A Well-Salted Hexagon 144
CHAPTER TEN The Hapsburg Pickle 162
CHAPTER ELEVEN The Leaving of Liverpool 179
CHAPTER TWELVE American Salt Wars 200
CHAPTER THIRTEEN Salt and Independence 214
CHAPTER FOURTEEN Liberté, Egalité, Tax Breaks 225
CHAPTER FIFTEEN Preserving Independence 238
CHAPTER SIXTEEN The War Between the Salts 257
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Red Salt 276
PART THREE Sodium's Perfect Marriage
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN The Odium of Sodium 291
CHAPTER NINETEEN The Mythology of Geology 303
CHAPTER TWENTY The Soil Never Sets On 318
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Salt and the Great Soul 333
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Not Looking Back 355
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE The Last Salt Days of Zigong 369
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Ma, La, and Mao 388
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE More Salt than Fish 399
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX Big Salt, Little Salt 426
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 451
BIBLIOGRAPHY 453
INDEX 467

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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating 4 (5 comments)

`
mil.glow , October 29, 2014 (view all comments by mil.glow)
Great book. One of my favorite history books that really brings the story of salt and how humans have interacted with it.

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Elisabeth Gleckler , January 04, 2012
Terrific book. This is how history should be taught to kids. Take a common element and trace it back to understand our connection with the past.

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`
Erin Kendrick , January 07, 2011 (view all comments by Erin Kendrick)
It's about salt. It's long. It is packed with dorky history tidbits, which was the best part. Much of the time it seemed to get off track (of the main subject of salt) and go off on tangents, that sometimes were interesting in and of themselves, but left the book feeling disjointed and random. Did you know that salt played a role in the work of Gandhi? This history lesson was one of the most enjoyable parts of the book. Keep in mind, I am not a history buff (at all) but have come to appreciate learning about it.

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Alethea , November 09, 2008 (view all comments by Alethea)
While at times this read almost like a recitation of facts about salt, in other parts of the book it was a fascinating look at how things as simple as salt make the world go 'round.

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`
elise.petersen , September 01, 2008
I was assigned this reading for an AP World History class, and I cannot honestly say that in all parts of the book i was thoroughly entertained. However, it was interesting in that it opened up my mind to how much salt--common salt--has influenced humankind. I never thought about salt as anything more than what I eat on my dinner plate, but this book got me thinking in a much bigger picture.

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Product Details

ISBN:
9780142001615
Binding:
Trade Paperback
Publication date:
01/28/2003
Publisher:
PENGUIN PUTNAM TRADE
Pages:
496
Height:
7.75
Width:
5.00
Thickness:
1.00
Age Range:
from 18 and up
Grade Range:
from 12
Number of Units:
1
Copyright Year:
2002
Series Volume:
131-02
UPC Code:
2800142001617
Author:
Mark Kurlansky
Subject:
Salt -- History.
Subject:
Salt
Subject:
Salt industry and trade
Subject:
Food Industry & Science
Subject:
World History-General
Subject:
History

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List Price:$19.00
Used Trade Paperback
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  • New, Trade Paperback, $19.00
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