The book of the Olive Tree

Who hasn’t dreamt of basking in the shade of the Mediterranean olive tree? But isn’t Athena’s tree threatened with extinction? Is olive oil too expensive? And why do Mediterranean people defend their tree so passionately? Where and how is olive oil made? Is cooking with olive oil harmful? This book seeks to understand and explain the current situation of the tree and its cultivation by showing the constant links between the expansion of the olive tree and the society of its time, from ancient Greece to the Common Market. Richly illustrated and clearly presented, this book will appeal to a wide audience interested in learning about the past, finding the keys to a complex present, growing their own olive trees and finding simple, tasty traditional recipes.