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A Short History of Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce - by Massimo Montanari (Hardcover)

A Short History of Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce - by  Massimo Montanari (Hardcover)
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Last Price: 18.00 USD

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<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>"Is it possible to identify a starting point in history from which everything else unfolds--a single moment that can explain the present and reveal the essence of our identities? According to Massimo Montanari, this is just a myth: by themselves, origins explain very little and historical phenomena can only be understood dynamically--by looking at how events and identities develop and change as a result of encounters and combinations that are often unexpected. As Montanari shows in this lively, brilliant, and surprising essay, all you need to debunk the "origins myth" is a plate of spaghetti. By tracing the history of the one of Italy's "national dishes"--from Asia to America, from Africa to Europe; from the beginning of agriculture to the Middle Ages and up to the 20th century--he shows that in order to understand who we are (our identity) we almost always need to look beyond ourselves to other cultures, peoples, and traditions."--Provided by publisher.<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br><p><strong>Intellectually engaging and deliciously readable, a stereotype-defying history of how one of the most recognisable symbols of Italian cuisine and national identity is the product of centuries of encounters, dialogue, and exchange.</strong></p><br><p>Is it possible to identify a starting point in history from which everything else unfolds--a single moment that can explain the present and reveal the essence of our identities? According to Massimo Montanari, this is just a myth: by themselves, origins explain very little and historical phenomena can only be understood dynamically--by looking at how events and identities develop and change as a result of encounters and combinations that are often unexpected.</p><br><p>As Montanari shows in this lively, brilliant, and surprising essay, all you need to debunk the "origins myth" is a plate of spaghetti. By tracing the history of the one of Italy's "national dishes"--from Asia to America, from Africa to Europe; from the beginning of agriculture to the Middle Ages and up to the 20th century--he shows that in order to understand who we are (our identity) we almost always need to look beyond ourselves to other cultures, peoples, and traditions.</p><p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br><p>"Illuminating... Suited for those with big appetites for knowledge, [<em>A Short History of Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce</em>] is full of delicious details."--<strong><em>Publishers Weekly</em></strong></p><br><p>"Thorough, well-researched and enlightening... Montanari sets a beautiful table filled with savory information that will appeal to academics, history buffs, the culinary-minded and those eager to learn how and why twirling a fork into a mountain of spaghetti with tomato sauce has become a delicious source of comforting nourishment."--<strong><em>Shelf Awareness</em></strong></p><br><p>"The book is just the right length (128 pages), academic and an utterly fascinating discourse on food history."--<strong><em>The Daily Beast</em></strong></p><br><p>"Montanari's research will delight readers and provide plenty of fodder for dinner-table discussion."--<strong><em>Booklist</em></strong></p><br><p>"<em>A Short History of Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce</em> is so much more than the chronicle of a familiar, beloved dish. The book is an inquiry into culture, economics and society... This delightful book will inspire readers."--<strong><em>BookTrib</em></strong></p><br><p>"Montanari traces the unstoppable rise of what would become the most famous dish in the whole world."--<strong><em>La Repubblica</em></strong></p><br><p>"A learned, entertaining volume."--<strong><em>Il Giornale</em></strong></p><br>

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