
Cod
A Global History
Elisabeth Townsend(Author)
Reaktion Books (Publisher)
Published on 12. September 2022
Book
Hardback
160 pages
978-1-78914-598-4 (ISBN)
Description
This is the first culinary history of a truly remarkable fish. Elisabeth Townsend follows cod around the globe, showing how its pursuit began with the Vikings, and exploring its influence on human affairs ever since. The book looks at the different ways cod has been caught, cooked and eaten, often by the descendants of explorers, enslaved people and traders.
Cod examines the fish in the myths and legends of the North Atlantic, the West Indies, South America, West and Southeast Africa, and across the Indian Ocean to the Far East. It is a fascinating journey through cod fact and lore, and features delectable historical and contemporary recipes that showcase the myriad ways it can be consumed.
Cod examines the fish in the myths and legends of the North Atlantic, the West Indies, South America, West and Southeast Africa, and across the Indian Ocean to the Far East. It is a fascinating journey through cod fact and lore, and features delectable historical and contemporary recipes that showcase the myriad ways it can be consumed.
Reviews / Votes
There's a charm to a small book, and Elizabeth Townsend brings a masterful concision to Cod. * The Art of Eating * A pleasing, informative and thorough little book. * Culinary Historians of Canada, 'Digestible Bits and Bites" * Townsend tells the important story of this fish and surprises constantly with fascinating stories of its centrality to the progress of world history. She appends with recipes both ancient and contemporary, from Jamaican ackee and saltfish to French haute cuisine. Carefully chosen illustrations and photographs enhance the text. * Booklist * [In] Reaktion's appealing format, packed with color illustrations and recipes . . . Townsend looks at where cod have been and where they might be headed in the 21st century, as a species and a foodstuff. * Lection * Cod is an engaging celebration of the history, ecology, and deliciousness of an extraordinary fish that has sustained people worldwide for centuries, and a heartfelt plea for its future survival. * Darra Goldstein, founding editor of Gastronomica and author of Beyond the North Wind * Through a human lens, Townsend puts focus on this iconic fish, which has shaped our history, fed societies and fuelled economies for centuries. Richly illustrated, well researched - no one has told the story better. * George A. Rose, Honorary Professor, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, UBC *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
61 illustrations, 46 in colour
Dimensions
Height: 188 mm
Width: 124 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
363 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78914-598-4 (9781789145984)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
Elisabeth Townsend has been writing about food, travel and wine for over twenty years. Her first book was Lobster: A Global History (Reaktion, 2011).