The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs
| The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs | |
|
| |
| Category: Historical Fiction | |
| |
Reviewer: Megan Kenny
 | |
| Summary: The Language of Food is a sumptuous, glorious and evocative historical reimagining of the decade Eliza Acton spent on her first cookery book. It is a richly vivid read, filled with passion, heartbreak and women who refuse to conform to the expectations of society. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 416 | Date: February 2022 |
| Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK | |
| ISBN: 978-1398502222 | |
|
Share on: | |
|
| |
Eliza Acton is a poet who has never had the slightest inclination to boil an egg. When tasked with writing a cookery book, she recruits Ann Kirby, a local woman with a troubled home life. Together, they test, craft, refine and reshape the world of domestic cookery, reinventing the recipe book and changing the face of cookery writing forever.
I loved this book. Loved everything about it. I refuse to be neutral, it is impossible. As a food fanatic and also a lover of historical fiction, particularly stories about women who broke the 'rules' of the day, it's as though this book was written just for me.The characters are sharp, witty, well rounded and delightfully flawed. Eliza and Ann are two intelligent, curious and ambitious women, both restrained by society but in very different ways. Both are seeking an outlet for their creativity, their intelligence and their ambition. Both are indebted to a family that cannot or will not understand them. And both are incapable of accepting the limitations life has placed on them. Eliza, an 'old maid' trying to outrun a secret shame, refuses to bow to the pressures of her station in life and Ann refuses to accept that she is tarnished by her family's history, or by her socioeconomic status. However, there is a tension ever present in their dynamic, centering on the significant class divide between them and the complexities involved in their relationship as a result.
Abbs' writing is vivid, evocative and richly delicious. The descriptions of the dishes Eliza and Ann create are heady and sensuous, so gratifyingly well crafted that, at points, you can taste them. The role of food, of the act of cooking, is so lovingly rendered that it reminds the reader of the significance of food to memory, to wellbeing and to relationships. For Eliza, the act of making bread becomes a balm when making a life changing decision. For Ann, the simple mindfulness of peeling apples can quiet a mind in turmoil. It is in these actions that we see the true power of cooking for all who partake in it, from Michelin starred chefs to those of us making tea tonight. The joy we find in the art and the act of taking disparate elements and combining them into something delicious is nothing less than divine. In a world foretold by Eliza Acton, the focus on convenience and ready made food has robbed us of that joy. The ding of the microwave can never satiate the hunger for nourishing, soul nurturing food that we create with our own hands. This beautiful book reminds us of that and I am thrilled to have had the chance to read it.
For another beautiful ode to the magic of cookery, you could try English Food by Jane Grigson.
Please share on: 
Facebook, 
Twitter and
Instagram
You can read more book reviews or buy The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You could get a free audio download of The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs with a 30-day Audible free trial at Amazon.co.uk.
You can read more book reviews or buy The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs at Amazon.com.
Check prices, read reviews or buy from Waterstones. Waterstones currently charges from £2.75 for orders under £20, over which delivery is free. You may also click and collect from a Waterstones bookshop at no charge.
Comments
Like to comment on this review?
Just send us an email and we'll put the best up on the site.
