Boise’s Basque Market to host Dave Boling, author of “Guernica”

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Bombing of Gernika.

Boise’s Basque Market and The Rediscovered Bookshop are hosting Dave Boling, author of “Guernica” on Friday from 18:00 to 21:00 at the Basque block.

Boling, author and journalist in the Pacific Northwest since 1980, will be speaking from the back of a Basque sheep wagon on the Basque block.

Set in the Basque town of Gernika before, during and after its destruction by the German Luftwaffe during the Spanish civil war, Boling narrates the story of the Ansotegui brothers.

Justo, the oldest of the three, assumes control of the family farm at the age of 15 after his mother dies and his father abandons them, insane with grief. Josepe and Xabier become a fisherman and a priest, respectively. Justo marries and raises Miren, a beautiful and graceful dancer.

Miren will fall in love with Miguel Navarro, who, in conflict with the Civil Guard, leaves the Basque fishing village of Lekeitio to make a new start in Gernika. Meanwhile, in Bilbao, Father Xabier strikes up a friendship with Jose Antonio Aguirre, who will become the Basque president in the future.

The novel is twice interesting for the Basque community in Boise as the two cities are sister cities since 1992 and many of the first immigrants who came from the Basque Country to Boise over 100 years ago were born within a 30 mile radius of the city of Gernika. Names in the novel familiar around Boise include Murelaga, Arana, Aldecoa and Ansotegui.

Wine tasting and tapas will be served before and after the author speaks. Tickets for the wine tasting & tapas are $9 in advance or $10 the evening of the 19th.The street will be closed to traffic during the event.