Tobacco was first cultivated and enjoyed by the indigenous inhabitants
of the Americas, who used it for medicinal, religious, and social
purposes long before the arrival of Columbus. But when Europeans began
to colonize the American continents, it became something else entirely
-- a cultural touchstone of pleasure and success, and a coveted
commodity that would transform the world economy forever. Iain Gately's
Tobacco tells the epic story of an unusual plant and its unique
relationship with the history of humanity, from its obscure ancient
beginnings, through its rise to global prominence, to its current
embattled state today. In a lively narrative, Gately makes the case for
the tobacco trade being the driving force behind the growth of the
American colonies, the foundation of Dutch trading empire, the
underpinning cause of the African slave trade, and the financial basis
for our victory in the American Revolution. Informed and erudite,
Tobacco is a vivid and provocative look into the complex history of this
precious plant. "A rich, complex history ... Deeply engaging and witty."
-- Carmela Ciuraru, Los Angeles Times "Ambitious ... informative and
perceptive ... Gately is an amusing writer, which is a blessing." --
Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post "[Gately] documents the
resourcefulness with which human beings of every class, religion, race,
and continent have pursued the lethal leaf." -- John Leland, The New
York Times Book Review
