Bananas have been around for a long time. Some scholars even think that Eve's apple was actually a banana. In this book, author Dan Koeppel traces the history of this beloved yellow fruit from Genesis all the way to the 21st century, with many strange twists and turns along the way. The impact that bananas have had on the world is dramatic: their cultivation had the power to make or break entire economies, and they were so highly prized that they made the companies Chiquita and Dole into virtual monopolies. From the sordid history of these 'banana republics' to the bananas current plight, threatened by a new fast-moving disease with no cure yet known, Koeppel fascinates and educates as he chronicles the banana's past and wonders about its future.(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)