English Food : A People's History
Publisher,William Collins
Publication Date,
Format, Paperback
Weight,
No. of Pages, 560
An absolute gem' Sunday Times
'A mouthwatering history' The Guardian
In this delicious history of Britain's food traditions, Diane Purkiss invites readers on a unique journey through the centuries, exploring the development of recipes and rituals for mealtimes such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner, to show how food has been both a reflection of and inspiration for social continuity and change.
Purkiss uses the story of food as a revelatory device to chart changing views on class, gender, and tradition through the ages. Sprinkled throughout with glorious details of historical quirks - trial by ordeal of bread, a fondness for 'small beer' and a war-time ice-cream substitute called 'hokey pokey' made from parsnips - this book is both an education and an entertainment.
About the Author
Diane Purkiss is a Professor of English Literature at Oxford and fellow of Keble College. She is the author of the much-admired The Witch in History, Troublesome Things, and the acclaimed history, The English Civil War.
- Dimensions : 15.9 x 4.6 x 24 cm
