How was a discharged woman from a fishing village on the west coast of Ireland able to find and market an unending supply of choice seafood from Vinland… long before Columbus or Cabot ever 'discovered' the New World? She exhibited the spunk of a proto-feminist, unheard-of in the year 1249. Ultimately, she contrived a mission to defeat the thieves who wanted to keep the fishing grounds secret and opened the doors of the most valuable fishery ever known. She changed the history of our world. How was a discharged woman from a fishing village on the west coast of Ireland able to find and market an unending supply of choice seafood from Vinland… long before Columbus or Cabot ever 'discovered' the New World? She exhibited the spunk of a proto-feminist, unheard-of in the year 1249. Ultimately, she contrived a mission to defeat the thieves who wanted to keep the fishing grounds secret and opened the doors of the most valuable fishery ever known. She changed the history of our world.EDITORIAL REVIEW by Victoria ChathamIn his introduction, Allan Dillard mentions that he had very few facts to rely on while writing this book, but drew inspiration from a quote by W.O. Mitchell: "e;Just ask what your character would likely choose and let the story tell you where it goes from there."e;His character, Aideen, a spirited thirteenth-century entrepreneur, does exactly that. She is the mistress of a manor house in Dingle, a coastal town on Ireland's Atlantic seaboard. She receives a message from Henry III of England advising her to expect the arrival of Vicar Maurice, who is to oversee the area. Despite her best efforts, Aideen soon exchanges words with the Vicar and is dismissed from her position. With no one to support her, Aideen vows to herself and the people of Dingle to provide them with 'plump, white, cod fish.' How she achieves this forms the heart of the story, which takes us on a journey across the northern hemisphere from Ireland, Norway, and Denmark to Iceland, Greenland, and Vinland—the legendary area of North America settled by the Vikings—and then to Portugal and Spain.The treacherous Gunnarsson brothers, Arne and Stok, also have their eyes on the prize by following the cod, and agree to trade with Aideen. Into this mix comes the newly ordained Father Niels. Through his eyes, we see the importance of religion in daily life during that period, culminating in a pilgrimage to the great cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. The characters are not lost in the scope of the story as we embark on voyages across uncertain seas in open boats, taste the salt, and land on unexpected shores. This book was a satisfying read and should appeal not only to history enthusiasts but also to everyone who loves adventure.
