Cod

In Mark Kurlansky's book, the humble cod becomes the main character in world history. For the sake of cod, Europeans began to cross the Atlantic – and it is thanks to cod that such long voyages became possible. Wars were fought and revolutions began because of cod; it served as the basis of the diet for entire nations, economies of different countries depended on it, and the colonization of North America occurred largely because of it.

The author introduces readers to people whose lives are closely connected with this unique fish – researchers, traders, writers, chefs, and of course, fishermen. He tells about the cod wars of the 16th and 20th centuries, shares recipes from different eras, and shows us the cod itself – its behavior, evolution, and ultimately, its tragedy.

For centuries, cod has fed humanity, but now it needs our help: the fish stocks, once thought to be inexhaustible, have nearly run out.