Description

A fascinating account of the Pyrenees and their people-from prehistoric settlement to the present day

The Pyrenees dominate the landscape between France and Spain, stretching from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Long thought of as an impassable, unspoiled wilderness, the mountains are often seen as both a physical and cultural barrier between western Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. Yet this treacherous terrain has been inhabited and shaped by human hands for centuries.

Colin Duncan Taylor leads us through the human history of the Pyrenees, from the cave art of their first prehistoric inhabitants to today’s spa towns and ski resorts. Early pastoralists, Greek and Roman colonists, the Visigoths, and the Moors all left their mark on the mountains, which have played an outsize role in European history-as a place to live or hide, attack or defend, exploit or enjoy.

Taylor collects stories from both sides of the mountains and reveals how they have been made and remade throughout history by people from all levels of society.

Publisher Review

“Although older than the Alps, the Pyrenees remain far less well known . . . Taylor’s account is an absorbing romp through this human story.”-Ettie Neil-Gallacher, The Field

“Although older than the Alps, the Pyrenees remain far less well known . . . Taylor’s account is an absorbing romp through this human story.”-Ettie Neil-Gallacher, The Field

“Immaculately researched, humorous, and beautifully written. The focus is precise-the impact of human hands on the mountain landscape. A book for mountain lovers everywhere.”-Nick Thorpe, author of Walking Europe’s Last Wilderness

“Colin Duncan Taylor draws on the experiences and observations of twenty-five years spent in the Pyrenees to offer the reader a narrative of enlightening insight into this mountain range’s historical, cultural and political history.”-Jules Stewart, co-author of Cadiz

“A genuine delight: this human history of the Pyrenees is original, hugely informative and beautifully written. Ranging from cave art to modern tourism, Taylor brings alive one of Europe’s most spectacular yet unknown landscapes.”-Luke Stegemann, author of Madrid