Oyster : A World History

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9780752457345
• ISBN10: 0752457349
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 2011-04-01
• Publisher: The History Press

Summary

In the vein ofSaltandCod--the incredible tale of the oyster in history, art, literature, and more, from the dawn of time up through its current role as a symbol of environmentalism in the U. S. Oysters are older than people, older than grass, and this journey demonstrates that they have been present at every turn of human events--inspiring great writers, painters, and cooks; sustaining whole communities; and fashioning legend and history. Besides being an unusual species in themselves, oysters provide a fascinating insight into how the world has evolved. Their pearls have funded empires and caused the invention of modern-day slavery. The evidence oysters leave behind shows us that we were not cavepeople at all, but covepeople, exploring the world along the coastlines, because oysters were a sign of a safe and healthy marine economy. They have been influential both as one of the healthiest foods we can eat and with their perennial reputation as an aphrodisiac. This book discusses the scandal of what has happned to the oyster in the UK, its use as a symbol in the U. S., and the hopes for aquaculture in Japan and Korea. From pleasure, pearls, politics, piracy, piety, and poverty, this book reveals a whole array of incredible, little-known facts.

Author Biography

Drew Smith is the former editor of The Good Food Guide and a former restaurant writer for the Guardian who won the Glenfiddich Food and Drink Award three times.

Table of Contents

Author's Note	p. 6
Prologue: The Craic	p. 7
Ancient Times
In the Beginning	p. 10
Of Pearls & Gods	p. 17
Biology	p. 27
Fabulous Legends: Megaliths, Celts & Phoenicians	p. 40
Edible Bones: Greeks & Romans	p. 53
Old World
England	p. 68
Brython	p. 103
France	p. 118
New world
The First Americans	p. 132
Tales of the Chesapeake	p. 156
The South	p. 178
The West & Canada	p. 195
South Seas	p. 210
Moderntimes
The Science	p. 226
Epilogue	p. 247
Index	p. 251
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