The Basque Country: A Cultural History

by Paddy Woodworth

The Basque Country is a land of fascinating paradoxes and enigmas. Home to one of Europe's oldest peoples and most mysterious languages, with a living folklore rich in archaic rituals and dances, it also boasts a dynamic modern energy, with the reinvention of Bilbao creating a model for the twenty-first-century city.

In The Basque Country , Paddy Woodworth takes us on a sweeping tour of this enchanting land. We discover a small territory which abounds in big contrasts, ranging from moist green valleys to semi-desert badlands, from snowy sierras to sandy beaches, from harsh industrial landscapes to bucolic beech woods. The book reveals how this often idyllic scenery forms the backdrop for a land of ancient and modern culture, where Basque poets still compose spontaneous stanzas in public contests and where strange age-old sports--rock lifting, goose decapitation--are still held at fiestas. Likewise, the region has made important contributions to modern culture, through novelists like Bernardo Atxaga, sculptors like Eduardo Chillida, painters like Zuluoaga, and cineastes like Julio Medem. And of course Bilbao's flagship museum, the Guggenheim, designed by Frank O. Gehry, may be the best work of architecture of the last century.

Here then is a marvelous guide to the culture and landscape of one of the most intriguing places on Earth.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Spain, Travel, France

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2007

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a densely written book about a beautiful region with a terrible history and a strong culture. It's probably no accident that an Irishman should be drawn to write it, and to be able to write it so well.

I think I like this book so much because it was written about the same time as I first experienced the Basque Country, and what the author describes accords closely with what I observed. I recognized the place and that made me trust his analysis.

It's not likely a book you'll pick up if you aren't interested in Basques and Basqueness, but if you are and you do, you won't be disappointed. It's been ten years since I was last there, and fifteen since the book was written. I find myself wanting to return and explore more and see if there are further changes.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guah! Amazing! Quite honestly one of my new favorite books. Woodworth crafts a non-fiction gem that reads as quickly as a suspense thriller, but without scrimping on the details. Blending history, quotes from interviews with locals, photos, and contemporary events and descriptions of towns and traditions, he also manages to deal not only with French and Spanish concerns but also with the differences and similarities between the situations of the Basque Country and Ireland/Northern Ireland (mostly just in passing, but fascinatingly so, as Paddy Woodworth was an Irish reporter before he became interested in the Basque country). A captivating and intelligent read.

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, so far, the best book on Basques ever written. Paddy Woodworth covers a range of topics from gastronomy to politics. I found his book to take a much more neutral view than Mark Kurlansky's "The Basque History of the World".

The only thing working against the book is that some passages read like newspaper articles and at times, it will be difficult to appreciate the chapter if you are unfamiliar with certain things in Basque culture, gastronomy, literature, or politics.

[Jack Hrkach · Rating 3 out of 5]

In about six weeks I am heading back to Spain, exploring Salamanca, Valladolid, then heading into Basque Country, Bilbao and San Sebastian in particular. I read this book as background material, and while I cannot say for certain as I've not yet been, it SEEMS that it I have found a very useful source.

In fact I nearly changed my plans, as Woodworth lures the reader towards smaller places of interest, to spend more time in this area with a fascinating past. I think it probably goes into more detail than I need, and I did find it somewhat repetitive and at times a tad tedious, but I very much enjoyed much of it. Highlights included the chapter on Bilbao (obviously, as Im heading there for the better part of a week) and on Bernado Atxaga, perhaps THE most important writer of fiction to come out of the Spanish Basque area. I had just finished one of his novels, The Accordionist's Son, which I found very enjoyable and moving, and hope to read more, though as I must read Kindle editions exclusively (bad eyes, need large print), only Obabakoak was I able also to find as a Kindle book.

He mentioned in his introduction that he'd only touch on San Sebastian, and touch on it he did - only enough to be a bit of a tease. Too bad, but this wide-ranging cultural history should be on anyone's list who wants to learn more about Basque history. It was published around 2006, so you'll want to find out about more recent activities of ETA, for example, but it is rewarding in any case.

I should note that this book focuses more than 80 percent on SPANISH Basque. He goes into the French Basques at the very end. If you're looking for a detailed look at Basques in France you may want to look elsewhere.

One last note - three stars for me indicates a very good book. I reserve four stars for books that blow me away, and five for the few that go beyond even that demanding status. So don't be put off by three stars...and have a look if you like!

[Niall · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and informative exploration of Basque culture and history in all its complexity. Paddy Woodworth discusses the range of political viewpoints among the population of the Basque country, their attitudes to the Basque language and their reactions to ETA violence. Their identities can be Basque, Spanish or Spanish and Basque. Nothing is simple or straightforward! Having just returned from Bilbao, I found his account of how the 'city of iron' became the 'city of titanium' - or how a decaying mining city became 'cool' - a green city, a centre for modern art and gastronomy.

The book would benefit with a few more maps particularly in the section on the French Basque country

[Katie Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book claims to try to dismantle the “exoticism” of the Basques, but does it’s best to add doubt and destabilize the history of the Basques as they know it, as if the way we tell our own history is subpar to the author’s “truth.”

[Haley Tenney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A recording of history and traditions that I was so impressed with that I cannot write a review at this hour

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was probably better than 2 stars, but I was looking for Basque food ideas, and the book was a little lacking in that regard.
He does include one chapter about the importance of gastronomy in Basque culture, which was very interesting and made me want to go to Bilbao just for the food.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at the history and traditions of the Basque Country. This was well-written, informative and fascinating. One tiny minor bugbear though is that it could have done with a better editor as there were numerous typos and missing words. Otherwise, a good introduction to the region.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best book in English on the Basque country in my opinion

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written (although some anecdotes go a bit long). Really helped me to understand the people and the region.