Review by Choice Review
This history of the Basque community in Idaho from 1890 to the present describes immigrants who first thrived as shepherds (not a principal activity in the old country), and then gradually moved into more varied economic activities. Particular emphasis is given to the numerous Basque-owned boarding houses, which enabled immigrants to sustain their culture while allowing a connection to the broader American society. The authors describe a community that was able to maintain much of its culture and yet still be accepted by Idaho's larger non-Basque population. They particularly stress Marcus Lee Hanson's argument that the third generation was more aware of its heritage than the second generation. That point is elaborated through a discussion of Basque visits back to the old country, their fascination with the ethnic movement of the 1970s, efforts to preserve the Basque language, and the interest in the Basque Studies Program at Boise State University. Footnotes and a useful bibliography are provided, but immigration scholars will be disappointed by the lack of a penetrating analysis of why Idaho Basques developed their unique characteristics. Statistical tables giving a clearer picture of the community's growth and distribution would have also been helpful. Advanced undergraduates. J. P. Rodechko; Wilkes University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
