"The singular remarkable fact about the Basques is that they still exist." Bestselling author Mark Kurlansky says. The Basque people truly believe they should live 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 24 million population, 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 to thrive.

Mark Kurlansky began his careers as a foreign correspondent writing about the last years of Francoism in Spain, especially in the Basque Provinces, and he has returned there annually for the past twenty-five years. He is the bestselling author of Salt, Cod, A Continent of Islands and a Chosen Few. His works have won awards and praise from both book and food critics.