Olive: A Global History (Edible) - Hardcover

"Lanza's little Olive book is as trim as the olive itself. . . . Lanza paints an interesting history of olives. . . . This book makes an excellent olive gift to yourself or to all olive-loving friends." --Food Site of the Day "A fun, smartly written series appropriate for a popular audience that likes to eat . . . the Edible series books provide level-headed and enjoyable overviews of food culture . . . These will create a little library that any foodie will be proud to show off . . . aesthetically pleasing volumes with decent content that would make good presents."--Winterthur Portfolio, on the Edible series --Winterthur Portfolio

Olives are at once a mythical food - bringing to mind scenes from Ancient Rome and the Bible - and an everyday one, given the ubiquity of olive oil in contemporary diets. In this original, succinct and engaging history Fabrizia Lanza traces the olive's roots from antiquity, when olive oil was exalted for ritual purposes and used to anoint kings and athletes; to the sixteenth century, when Europeans brought the olive to the New World; to the present day, when the fruit and its oil have successfully conquered our palates, in part thanks to waves of global immigration and the popularity of the healthy Mediterranean Diet. Lanza describes the role that olive trees, olives and their oil have played in myths, legends and literature, as well as in the everyday lives of people throughout the Mediterranean. A global selection of recipes featuring olives and olive oil showcases the fruit's culinary diversity. Featuring a wealth of historical detail, this book will be a popular addition to all food lovers' bookshelves.