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Pepper: A History of the World's Most Influential Spice Paperback – August 5, 2014

by Marjorie Shaffer (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 83 ratings
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"A well-documented companion to Mark Kurlansky's Salt." ―Publishers Weekly

Mark Kurlansky's smash hit Salt exposed the fascinating history of this everyday staple to countless readers around the world. Now, in this perfect companion to Kurlansky's book, Marjorie Shaffer illuminates the rich history of pepper for a popular audience.

Vivid and entertaining, this sweeping tale of adventure and intrigue describes the essential role that pepper played in bringing both Americans and Europeans to Asia. From the abundance of wildlife on the islands of the Indian Ocean to colorful accounts of sultans entertaining their European visitors, this fascinating book reveals the often surprising story behind one of mankind's most common spices.

In this definitively researched and compelling story, Pepper: A History of the World's Most Influential Spice, Shaffer combines history, customs, and food lore to deliver a mesmerizing tale that every foodie will have to own.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    St. Martin's Griffin
  4. Publication date
    August 5, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    5.49 x 0.91 x 8.2 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1250048664
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1250048660
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“This is more than the story of a spice…Get ready for a sweeping ride through history.” ―David Oshinsky, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Polio: An American Story

“After reading Marjorie Shaffer's Pepper, you'll reconsider the significance of that grinder or shaker on your dining room table.” ―Mark Pendergrast, author of Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World

“Pepper was once as critical a commodity as oil. Marjorie Shaffer weaves a delightful history of the Indian Ocean and the South Seas.” ―Robert D. Kaplan, author of Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power

About the Author

MARJORIE SHAFFER has written for The New York Times, The Financial Times, and Popular Science magazine. She was a business reporter for Reuters and a former Knight science journalism fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A graduate of Brown University, she received a Master of Science degree in biology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She is currently a science writer and editor at New York University School of Medicine. She lives in New York City.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (August 5, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250048664
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250048660
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.49 x 0.91 x 8.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 83 ratings

About the author

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Marjorie Shaffer

Marjorie Shaffer

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
83 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Michael Rosendahl
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2015
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I was was very enlightened to learn how much pepper planned a major influence in the history of the world's civilation. Maybe I should say "uncivilized" because of the way the pepper traders treated the people where they bought pepper. I would never imagined how much pepper was sought after even before Christ. Apparently, pepper was crucial in the beginning of trade between countries. Any history buff should have this book in their library.
One person found this helpful
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Michael S Garr
4.0 out of 5 stars An unexpected, but interesting, history of Sumatra and ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2017
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An unexpected, but interesting, history of Sumatra and surrounding areas that I knew little about. The last chapter was kind of out of place as the author writes about contemporary medical uses of pepper.
2 people found this helpful
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ParanaSlim
5.0 out of 5 stars Pepper: A History of the World's Most Influential Spice
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2020
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A very interesting book about the historical significance of the pepper trade.
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Chipper
5.0 out of 5 stars Another great enjoyable look at food history
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2015
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Another great enjoyable look at food history, this time pepper. This monograph involves swashbuckling tales of pirates, empires, and bribery. As usual the owners made the money by virtually enslaving their populations. If you like Salt, you will love Pepper!!!
One person found this helpful
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bookah
3.0 out of 5 stars the reading gets a little slow and dry as it leans toward repetitiveness but if you muscle through there is lots to be taken fro
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2016
Verified Purchase
loads of history and information, this seemed well researched and decently put together. the average person certainly has no idea about the way history has been transformed because of it. it could have been a little more compelling than simply historical. the reading gets a little slow and dry as it leans toward repetitiveness but if you muscle through there is lots to be taken from this good read.
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Andrew
4.0 out of 5 stars entertaining and interesting
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2015
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A great background and interesting tale of this seemingly everyday item. The history and selected accounts of how pepper and its many stakeholders came to pass is both entertaining but also a valuable source of historic information.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Fast and reliable business
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2020
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I love the book. Thanks
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Robert A. Adams
2.0 out of 5 stars If only this book was as spicy as its subject.
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2015
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A good author writes "page-turners". Even an historical author can do it. For example, as a history buff, I know the story of John Adams. But I could not put down David McCullough's biography of Adams. And my eyes filled with tears as I read McCullough's description of Adams' death. The book, "Team of Rivals", by Doris Kearns Goodwin was a similar "can't put down" read.

I wanted to like "Pepper, a History...." I really did. But by the middle of the book, the story had become a "yawner". The first time you read about the scourge of scurvy, you pay attention. But repeated iterations of disease-ravaged sailing vessel crews seems pointless. A European power captures a portion of the spice market, only to lose a portion of that market to another European rival, well, that became a repetitive theme too. I reached the point where the only thing I wanted to know about pepper was that the McCormick Company is keeping my local supermarket shelf stocked.

In another Author's hands, I think this could have been an interesting book. Many of the folks who were asked to endorse this book described it as a fitting companion to the book, "Salt" by Mark Kurlansky. I enjoyed "Salt". "Pepper" was just too bland.
15 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Vuthy Chrun
5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you ever wanted to know about this subject (or almost)
Reviewed in Canada on July 18, 2015
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This book is the result of a meticulous research and the writing style is easy to read. I commend the author for her work and contribution to our better understanding of how greed, adventure and power has always characterised Human History and Progress.

I wish the author had written a section on the culinary aspect of pepper, and how the pepper of Kampot (Cambodia) is the best in the world. It is also regrettable that Cambodia was not even metioned once as a pepper producing country in this, otherwise, well researched and well balanced book on the subject.
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Ian Lundegard
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2014
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5/5, many thanks.
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長野のおっさん
4.0 out of 5 stars 歴史マニアにお勧めの一冊
Reviewed in Japan on June 7, 2015
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非常に面白い。pepperを巡って、オランダとイギリスがいかに熾烈な争いをしてきたか、
それと東南アジアがどう関わっていたかについて、深く知ることができる。
驚いたことに、日本人がところどころで登場する。Russel　ShortoのAmsterdamと
併せて読むと、黄金の17世紀のオランダに嵌ること間違いない。
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dlavoie bell experience
5.0 out of 5 stars bonne condition
Reviewed in Canada on August 27, 2021
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plaisire
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