English Food: A People's history by Diane Purkiss
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.
English Food explores the development of the coffee trade and the birth of London’s coffee houses, where views were exchanged on politics, art, and literature. Purkiss introduces the first breeders of British beef and reveals how cattle triggered the terrible Glencoe Massacre. We are taken for tea, to the icehouse, the pantry, and the beehive. We learn that toast is as English as the chalk cliffs. We bite into chicken, plainly poached or exotically spiced. We join bacon curers and fishermen at work. We follow the scent of apples into ancient orchards.
A rich and indulgent history, English Food will change the way you view your food and understand your past.
The table is set, have a seat, and tuck in.
Every purchase you make supports the work of Shakespeare's Globe. Thank you!
Detail
Author: Diane Purkiss
Format: Paperback
Size: 129 mm x 198 mm
Pages: 560
We offer free UK delivery on orders over £30.
- Royal Mail – untracked
- DHL Next Day Delivery at checkout
International shipping options:
- Global Mail - Tracked standard service
- Express Worldwide – faster delivery with tracking
Made-to-order items
Some products are shipped directly from our suppliers. If your order includes both made-to-order and stocked items, they may arrive in separate parcels. For more details, visit our Delivery & Returns page.
Manufacturer contact information
Harper Collins Publishers,
Macken House
39/40 Mayor Street Upper
Dublin 1, D01 C9W8
Ireland
enquiries@harpercollins.ie
EU Authorised Representative Information
Harper Collins Publishers,
Macken House
39/40 Mayor Street Upper
Dublin 1, D01 C9W8
Ireland
enquiries@harpercollins.ie
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.
English Food explores the development of the coffee trade and the birth of London’s coffee houses, where views were exchanged on politics, art, and literature. Purkiss introduces the first breeders of British beef and reveals how cattle triggered the terrible Glencoe Massacre. We are taken for tea, to the icehouse, the pantry, and the beehive. We learn that toast is as English as the chalk cliffs. We bite into chicken, plainly poached or exotically spiced. We join bacon curers and fishermen at work. We follow the scent of apples into ancient orchards.
A rich and indulgent history, English Food will change the way you view your food and understand your past.
The table is set, have a seat, and tuck in.
Every purchase you make supports the work of Shakespeare's Globe. Thank you!
Detail
Author: Diane Purkiss
Format: Paperback
Size: 129 mm x 198 mm
Pages: 560
We offer free UK delivery on orders over £30.
- Royal Mail – untracked
- DHL Next Day Delivery at checkout
International shipping options:
- Global Mail - Tracked standard service
- Express Worldwide – faster delivery with tracking
Made-to-order items
Some products are shipped directly from our suppliers. If your order includes both made-to-order and stocked items, they may arrive in separate parcels. For more details, visit our Delivery & Returns page.
Manufacturer contact information
Harper Collins Publishers,
Macken House
39/40 Mayor Street Upper
Dublin 1, D01 C9W8
Ireland
enquiries@harpercollins.ie
EU Authorised Representative Information
Harper Collins Publishers,
Macken House
39/40 Mayor Street Upper
Dublin 1, D01 C9W8
Ireland
enquiries@harpercollins.ie