Category: Purchase Today

a cookbook

“Growing up, Gateau Basque was a staple at any family birthday or dinner. After uncovering La Vina Cheesecake in Marti Buckley’s cookbook, it’s become a family favorite and is now part of the family-function dessert rotation! Even if you don’t enjoy cooking/baking, this book is filled with stunning photos of the Basque Country and is worth the read (would even be a great coffee table book for friends and family to peek at!).” – the reviewer, BEO Board Member

If you are looking for a great Basque cookbook, look no further than award-winning author Marti Buckley’s Basque Country: A Culinary Journey Through a Food Lover’s Paradise. Not only is it filled with recipes of iconic Basque dishes, but Buckley also intertwines stories and photos of the Basque Country, culture and customs throughout the book. If you can make it through a handful of pages without running to your fridge to whip up something delicious, you’ll find yourself reminiscing over your last visit to the Basque Country or thinking about planning a trip ASAP!

The best part: Buckley’s next book is all about pintxos and comes out April 9th. Entitled “The Book of Pintxos: Discover the Legendary Small Bites of Basque Country,” it has over 70 recipes, highlighting their story and the bars they were created in. You can pre-order wherever books are sold, including Amazon.

a trilogy of graphic novels

“Zubiaga does a wonderful job entertaining and educating his readers on Basque whaling throughout his historical fiction trilogy.  I enjoyed reading this trilogy, and have learned so much about the history of Basque Whaling. ” – the reviewer, BEO Board Member

Joanes or the Basque Whaler is a trilogy of graphic novels written by Guillermo Zubiaga. In sequential order, they are The Flying Whaleboat, Whale Island, and Priest of Pirates. Zubiaga introduces Garat, the narrator, and immediately begins giving the reader background on Joanes, the main character or Basque skipper. This character was inspired by the real-life whaler Joanes de Etxaniz from Orio, Gipuzkoa, who died in Canada in 1584.  

This historical fiction trilogy is loaded with exciting expeditions experienced by Joanes.  Not only does this trilogy focus on whaling, but it also includes Basque mythology, witchcraft, and piracy. Due to the content and language, I would recommend children be at least fourteen years old to read.

a children’s book

“The book resonated with me in two ways: As the child in me who is a daughter of immigrants, and as the Amatxi I am today who is working to build this bridge.” – the reviewer

“What Amatxi Whispered,” a children’s book written and illustrated by Zoe Bray, is a delightful story that captures the essence of an American-born child, Artemisia, who is made aware of her mother’s Basque heritage through her language and stories. And while she’s intrigued by it, Artemisia doesn’t fully comprehend, as an American, her mother’s heritage. However, a trip to the Basque Country to meet her Amatxi (her mother’s mother) for the first time, changes that. She experiences her Basque heritage through both nature and her Amatxi’s way of life and learns that being Basque is a part of who she is, her roots are with her wherever always, anywhere.  

*The book is written in English and Basque and suggested for 3 years and above.

The Basque language (Euskara) is unrelated to any other language spoken today. In Euskara, the use of pronouns plays a powerful, crucial role as it relates to gender, societal, and cultural identity. 

This book offers a fascinating and insightful exploration of Euskara, as it relates to culture and gender. Begona Echeverria provides an in-depth look at the historical use and evolving marginalization of “noka” (a familiar form of address historically used in speaking to a girl or woman in whom one had konfiantza or trust) in Euskara, and its impact on Basque society and gender as seen through historical, religious, cultural, and folkloric lenses. 

Side note: Echeverria is a member of “NOKA”, a Basque-American singing trio, who promote women through songs using “noka”.

In honor of Women’s history month, this book was chosen to commemorate and reflect on the often overlooked contributions of women. It’s a collection of stories, biographies and academic articles celebrating the resiliency of Basque women throughout time and all over the globe. The collection begins with a two quaint fictional stories, leads into the chronicles of the amazing lives of several famous (and not so famous) Basque women, and wraps up with academia articles ranging in content, but focused on Basque women.

This book is available at the Center for Basque Studies Bookstore.

A coming-of-age story of Nagore Vargas, a child of Spanish left-wing immigrants to the Basque Country, during the eighties and nineties. She had no filter, and grew up quickly. This book is a fast-paced novel, switching back and forth from present day to her past. It is a journey of Nagore’s life, but also of the Basque Country’s evolution through the last three decades. An interesting read and an eye-opener to a Basque Country foreign to other’s experiences.

During World War II, many ordinary people found themselves in heroic situations. One of these took place in the Basque village of Mendive and involved an unlikely partnership between a Belgian ophthalmologist and a Basque shepherd. A sawmill became a front to convey people and cargo to Spain. Thankfully this true story has been documented and will not be lost to time. Interested? In addition to being available on Goodreads, we will soon have a copy in our library.