The Last Banquet - Hardcover

Grimwood, Jonathan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0857868799 ISBN 13: 9780857868794

Publisher: Canongate Books, 2013

Synopsis

Jean-Marie Charles d'Aumout is many things.
Orphan, soldier, diplomat, spy, lover.
And chef.

This is his story.

We meet Jean-Marie d'Aumout as a penniless orphan eating beetles by the side of a road. His fate is changed after an unlikely encounter finds him patronage and he is sent to military academy. Despite his lowly roots, and thanks to wit and courage in great measure, he grows up to become a diplomat and spy.

Passion, political intrigue and international adventure abound in Jean-Marie's life, yet his drive stems from a single obsession: the pursuit of the perfect taste. Three-Snake Bouillabaisse, Pickled Wolf's Heart and Flamingo Tongue are just some of the delicacies he devours on his journey toward the ultimate feast.

Rising through the ranks of eighteenth-century French society, he feasts with lords, ladies and eventually kings, at the Palace of Versailles itself.

But beyond the palace walls, revolution is in the air and the country is clamouring with hunger of a different kind.

About this title

Review

"Wonderfully enjoyable. Grimwood captures the colour, the decadence and tawdry glamour of Versailles beautifully. I loved the complexity of the relationships, and sensual quality reminded me at times of Angela Carter. Masterful" (CAROL BIRCH author of JAMRACH’S MENAGERIE)

"The Last Banquet is a feast for the senses; dark, sensual and unexpected. I loved it" (JOJO MOYES)

"The Last Banquet is an astonishing, sensual feast which will appeal to those who enjoyed Patrick Susskind's Perfume . . . a damned fine writer, and with The Last Banquet it feels like Grimwood has cut loose and written the book he was always meant to, with equal parts lush, sumptuous prose, convincing historical seasoning, and a cast of believable, human characters which will leave you sated and satisfied. Tastes like awesome" (David Barnett Independent on Sunday)

"Racily picaresque, energetic and clever" (Guardian)

"Jonathan Grimwood's latest novel is intriguing, fanciful, philosophical and told with an admirable lightness of touch" (Daily Mail)

"A true feast for the senses" (Scotsman)

"A delicious sensory overload" (Marina O'Loughlin)

"Jonathan Grimwood's intelligent story of lost innocence... follows convincingly in the traditions established by Patrick Suskind's Perfume and Andrew Miller's Pure" (Times Literary Supplement)

"As a piece of historical fiction, there is not an ounce of fat on it - a compliment, even for a work so concerned with the food of France" (The Times)

"A tantalising tale, be prepared for some dark mystery and decadent recipes. A must for lovers of Suskind's Perfume and Miller's Pure" (The Bookseller)

Book Description

A story of revolution and one man's hunger

About this edition

• Publisher: Canongate Books
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0857868799
• ISBN 13: 9780857868794
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 368