In this fascinating and lively narrative, Aguirresarobe traces the development of Basque distinctiveness from Roman times to the modern age. The book explores the changing historical dynamics of the Western Pyrenees and very effectively illustrates how various and highly contingent events have shaped the sense of what it means to be Basque. As the book is written in a very clear and witty style, it will appeal to a wide audience.

Siniša Maleševic, University College Dublin, Ireland

An elegant and compelling history of the Basque nation-where struggle, culture, memory, and love converge to shape one of Europe's most remarkable identities.

Xabier Irujo, Professor, Center for Basque Studies, University of Nevada, USA

The Basque Exception is a magnificent book... Aguirresarobe not only provides a wonderful overview of this fascinating topic but does so by giving a highly nuanced perspective without falling prey to nationalist clichés… A must-read for everyone interested in the history of the Basque Country and the rise of modern nations.

Eric Storm, Senior Lecturer in European History, Leiden University, The Netherlands

With The Basque Exception, Asier Hernández Aguirresarobe gives us an easy flowing narrative recounting a series of historical vignettes and colourful figures, all theoretically informed, but with a highly readable light-touch. Sensitive to the tensions between actual history, and historical myth-making, Aguirresarobe… eschews essentialism, while attending to the exceptionalism of this region and people.

Jonathan Hearn, Professor of Political and Historical Sociology, University of Edinburgh