Gifts of Neptune by Guelph Cavanna

Gifts of Neptune by Guelfo Cavanna is a cult book for lovers of the sea and cuisine. Scientific, linguistic and gastronomic information in one easy-to-follow text.

HOW THE BOOK IS COMPOSED

Spigola, luasso, spinola, ragno, varolo, lupu, buracciola; this is not the cantilena of the fishmonger of old, but the incipit of a long list of terms identifying the same fish. In united and disunited Italy, markets, menus and cookbooks still offer a Babel of terms, but back in 1913 Guelfo Cavanna had already brought order to the chaos. This unabridged reprint is accompanied by anintroduction by Professor Alberto Capatti, historian of Italian cuisine, who identifies the work as "a turning point in the cooking of fish not only because of its close relationship to its scientific examination and fishing, but because of its cultural significance..."

Cavanna's wide-ranging vision includes:

• a systematic list of the fish, mollusks and crustaceans of Italian waters with the scientific name, the Italian common name, the many dialectal variants as well as translations into the main European languages (German, French, English);


• descriptions of this fauna (complete with drawings) divided into the major scientific families;


• fishing details and news about the Italian and European fish trade;


• instructions for cleaning, cooking and also a selection of about 100 recipes.

AN ARTICULATE APPENDIX TO FACILITATE READING

An articulate appendix makes the volume easy to consult from different points of view. There is a general alphabetical index, a gastronomic and culinary alphabetical index, and an index of major fishing implements.

This "view from the sea," with all its teeming diversity, will be sure to inspire those escaping from the standardization of the sad fish stick.