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The Salt Roads
£7.99
An extraordinary story of how salt fish from Shetland fed Europe, powered an economic boom and helped shape cultures across the North Atlantic and beyond.
John Goodlad traces the salt fish trade from wild northern seas to distant dining tables, revealing how this humble product connected communities, inspired art and still shapes lives today.
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About the Ebook
The Salt Roads tells the remarkable tale of how salt fish from Shetland became one of Europe’s staple foods — fuelling economies, feeding communities and inspiring generations of artists, writers and musicians.
Goodlad follows the trade from the stormy waters of the North Atlantic and the ice-filled fjords of Greenland to the remote Faroe Islands, London’s middle‑class dining rooms, the bacalao restaurants of Spain and the Jewish shtetls of Eastern Europe.
Along the way, he shows how very different cultures were drawn together by this enduring, portable food, weaving together maritime history, social change and personal stories.
As well as tracing the historical arc, Goodlad meets the people whose lives still revolve around salt fish in the twenty‑first century, exploring urgent themes of sustainability, climate change and the food choices we face today.
Critical Praise
"A vivid, deeply informed account of how a single product helped knit together distant coasts and cultures."
Why You'll Love This Ebook
- A rich blend of local history and global trade centred on Shetland’s salt fish.
- Atmospheric storytelling spanning oceans, ports and communities across Europe.
- Connects past and present through sustainability, climate and modern seafood debates.
- Perfect for readers of maritime history, food culture and literary nonfiction.
- A standout Birlinn title from a leading voice in the seafood world.
About the Author
John Goodlad is a Shetlander who has spent his life in the seafood industry. Formerly CEO of the Shetland Fishermen’s Association and later a fish farmer, he now advises national and international seafood organisations and companies. His previous book, The Cod Hunters, was shortlisted for the Maritime Foundation’s Mountbatten Award for Best Maritime Book in 2020.
Publication Details
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
Imprint: Birlinn
Publication Date: 3 August 2023
Print Length: 272 pages
ISBN (Ebook): 9781788855372
Format: Ebook
Language: English
Categories: Local History / Literary Non‑Fiction
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