The Last Fish Tale: The Fate of the Atlantic and Survival in Gloucester, America's Oldest Fishing Port and Most Original Town

I enjoyed this book immensely. Kurlansky's got a deft hand with historical detail and an understated humor that sneaks up on a person.

His sympathetic and understanding portrait of the fishermen of Gloucester was eye-opening to me. All the books I've read about the current fishery crisis before this tended to hold the fishermen at least 60% responsible for the state of the ocean. Kurlansky begs to differ, and presents a very good case for the fishermen's side.

I was also pleasantly surprised to learn more about some artists, including Edward Hopper, who called Gloucester home.

Recommended for anyone with the slightest bit of interest in fisheries or historical fish tales.

Mark Kurlansky, author of excellent books about Cod and Salt, takes on the unique fishing town of Gloucester, Massachusetts in this work. Kurlansky approaches Gloucester from all angles with a historical survey stretching back to colonial times (and earlier), cultural and sociological insights into Gloucester people, and every so often throws in a traditional seafood recipe for good measure. Mostly though, this is a book about Gloucester's life blood - the fisheries and the commercial fisherman who sail out into them. In fact, Kurlansky ventures far beyond Gloucester to Canada, Britain, and Europe to other fishing villages who essentially share the same ecosystem and suffer the same fate of fishing villages in a time of dwindling show more stocks, pollutions, and sometimes counterproductive government regulation. This is a fascinating and lively book and I really enjoyed a learning a bit about a town so close to home, yet so distinctly separate. show less

Much has been written about the cod fishery around Gloucester, however I loved that this book longed to capture more than the struggles of the fishery itself. The feel of the town leaps of the page, and I love how Kurlanksy mixes in snippets of local traditions and recipes. An enjoyable read.

Not a topic I would normally read but he made it completely fascinating.

things bookbox ; The author uses the New England town of Gloucester to discussing the disappearing way of life - commercial fishing. How the town was formed, the changes over the centuries due to population & fish species available and what happened when government got involved. Very good and informative.