Herring: A Global History looks at the environmental, historical, political, cultural, and culinary background of this highly prolific and easily caught fish. For such a small fish, the herring has played an enormous role in history. Since the Middle Ages battles have been waged for it; international economic alliances have formed over it; a number of major cities owe their initial prosperities and structural foundations to it. 

Unquestionably, political powers have risen and fallen with the herring's own rise and fall in population. Herring: A Global History will appeal to food lovers, history buffs, and anyone who has ever eaten British kippers, German Bismarcks, Dutch matjes, or Jewish chopped herring.