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Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed…
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Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World (original 1997; edition 1998)

by Mark Kurlansky

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
3,231684,074 (3.88)166
Cod spans a thousand years and four continents. From the Vikings, who pursued the codfish across the Atlantic, and the enigmatic Basques, who first commercialized it in medieval times, to Bartholomew Gosnold, who named Cape Cod in 1602, and Clarence Birdseye, who founded an industry on frozen cod in the 1930s, Mark Kurlansky introduces the explorers, merchants, writers, chefs, and of course the fishermen, whose lives have interwoven with this prolific fish. He chronicles the fifteenth-century politics of the Hanseatic League and the cod wars of the sixteenth and twentieth centuries. He embellishes his story with gastronomic detail, blending in recipes and lore from the Middle Ages to the present. And he brings to life the cod itself: its personality, habits, extended family, and ultimately the tragedy of how the most profitable fish in history is today faced with extinction. From fishing ports in New England and Newfoundland to coastal skiffs, schooners, and factory ships across the Atlantic; from Iceland and Scandinavia to the coasts of England, Brazil, and West Africa, Mark Kurlansky tells a story that brings world history and human passions into captivating focus. The codfish. Wars have been fought over it, revolutions have been spurred by it, national diets have been based on it, economies and livelihoods have depended on it, and the settlement of North America was driven by it. To the millions it has sustained, it has been a treasure more precious than gold. Indeed, the codfish has played a fascinating and crucial role in world history.… (more)
Member:vrwolf
Title:Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World
Authors:Mark Kurlansky
Info:Penguin (Non-Classics) (1998), Paperback, 304 pages
Collections:Read but unowned, Nick Audio Books
Rating:*****
Tags:food history, America, fishing, conservation

Work Information

Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky (Author) (1997)

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» See also 166 mentions

English (66)  French (1)  Swedish (1)  All languages (68)
Showing 1-5 of 66 (next | show all)
This book works on several levels. As a broader international history, as a conservation story and as a narrow social history. Plus, if you are looking for a good cod recipe-look no further. Enjoyed it. ( )
  cspiwak | Mar 6, 2024 |
Short interesting book. The story of the cod is about the age of exploration, American Revolution, economics of slave and all the way to the world of today. It’s about how man has learned to empty out the oceans to fill his belly and his pockets. Lots of good stuff ( )
  DonJuanLibrary | Mar 9, 2023 |
This is the best sort of book about geography and history. ( )
  mykl-s | Mar 2, 2023 |
Interesting, well-written history of the impact of cod fishing on the development of North America. Since this was published in 1999, it needs updating now. ( )
  jrtanworth | Jan 5, 2023 |
A microhistory on the history of Cod, which is not something I ever expected to care about, but this book was an enjoyable trek through history, how crucial it was to human exploration of North America and the trade. The book does leave one a bit sad ultimately, as it's clear that humans are overfishing Cod and other fish, and there is clearly no desire from the fishermen to reduce their catches. One of the best things to happen to Cod were the world wars where fishing was extremely limited for obvious reasons. I came away from the book with a hope that we could just leave the oceans alone for a while to let nature recover. ( )
  driscoll42 | Feb 28, 2022 |
Showing 1-5 of 66 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (5 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Kurlansky, MarkAuthorprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Björkegren, HansTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Löfgren, MikaelPrefacesecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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These are the fishermen who stand sentry over the cod stocks off the headlands of North America, the fishermen who went to sea but forgot their pencil.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Do not combine Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World with A Cod's Tale. A Cod's Tale is a much shorter, illustrated version of Cod aimed at children.
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Cod spans a thousand years and four continents. From the Vikings, who pursued the codfish across the Atlantic, and the enigmatic Basques, who first commercialized it in medieval times, to Bartholomew Gosnold, who named Cape Cod in 1602, and Clarence Birdseye, who founded an industry on frozen cod in the 1930s, Mark Kurlansky introduces the explorers, merchants, writers, chefs, and of course the fishermen, whose lives have interwoven with this prolific fish. He chronicles the fifteenth-century politics of the Hanseatic League and the cod wars of the sixteenth and twentieth centuries. He embellishes his story with gastronomic detail, blending in recipes and lore from the Middle Ages to the present. And he brings to life the cod itself: its personality, habits, extended family, and ultimately the tragedy of how the most profitable fish in history is today faced with extinction. From fishing ports in New England and Newfoundland to coastal skiffs, schooners, and factory ships across the Atlantic; from Iceland and Scandinavia to the coasts of England, Brazil, and West Africa, Mark Kurlansky tells a story that brings world history and human passions into captivating focus. The codfish. Wars have been fought over it, revolutions have been spurred by it, national diets have been based on it, economies and livelihoods have depended on it, and the settlement of North America was driven by it. To the millions it has sustained, it has been a treasure more precious than gold. Indeed, the codfish has played a fascinating and crucial role in world history.

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