Advertisement
Books

Top 5 food histories, chosen by Diane Purkiss

The author and food historian selects five food histories that explore cooking and eating through the ages

1. The Bakers of Paris and the Bread Question, 1700-1775 by Steven Laurence Kaplan

The American who saved French bread with his passionate historical investigations, which include a full awareness of the horrifying industry conditions and the reason that lack of bread eventually brought down a king. 

2. Jane Grigson’s Vegetable Book

Yes, it is a recipe book, but each chapter begins with a history of the vegetable on which it focuses. There wasn’t much that Grigson didn’t know about her subject matter, and she writes beautifully here and in all her other works.

3 Martha Washington’s Booke of Cookery and Booke of Sweetmeats, transcribed by Karen Hess

This is the recipe book of George Washington’s wife, but what makes this edition exceptional are the notes provided by Karen Hess, which exemplify picky food history at its most rigorous.

4 The Medieval Cook by Bridget Ann Henisch

Unlike most medieval food histories, this takes us beyond palaces and country houses and into market squares and orchards and kitchens. Who knew that boys took their girlfriends out for waffles in the public square once upon a time?

5 Great British Bakes: Forgotten Treasures for Modern Bakers by Mary-Anne Boermans

English Food: A People’s History by Diane Purkiss

This food history is as tender as the softest cake. Her account of the English Civil War-era escape of one of the princes is sweet indeed; the woman who helped the child brought him his favourite cake to sustain him on the journey. 

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

English Food: A People’s History by Diane Purkiss is out now (HarperCollins, £30). You can buy some of these titles from The Big Issue shop on bookshop.org, which helps to support The Big Issue and independent bookshops.

This article is taken from The Big Issue magazine. If you cannot reach your local vendor, you can still click HERE to subscribe to The Big Issue today or give a gift subscription to a friend or family member.You can also purchase one-off issues from The Big Issue Shop or The Big Issue app, available now from the App Store or Google Play.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Never miss an issue

Take advantage of our special subscription offer. Subscribe from just £9.99 and never miss an issue.

Recommended for you

Read All
Hedonist ex-MP Victor Grayson tried to expose corruption and scandal. Then he disappeared forever
Corruption

Hedonist ex-MP Victor Grayson tried to expose corruption and scandal. Then he disappeared forever

Top 5 gritty thrillers, chosen by viral sensation and best-selling author Lloyd Devereux Richards
Books

Top 5 gritty thrillers, chosen by viral sensation and best-selling author Lloyd Devereux Richards

The Summer We Ate Off the China by Devin Jacobsen review – digging for deepest meaning
Books

The Summer We Ate Off the China by Devin Jacobsen review – digging for deepest meaning

How four women raged a secret propaganda war against the Nazis during World War II
World War II

How four women raged a secret propaganda war against the Nazis during World War II

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue