Items related to Coffee: A Dark History
The extraordinary tale of the wildfire spread of the consumption of a drink which is embedded in our history and our daily cultural life.
The coffee industry worldwide employs more people – thirty million – than any other. It is the lifeblood of many third world countries, either earning them invaluable foreign currency or enslaving them to the monster that is modern global capitalism, depending on how you look at it. From obscure beginnings in East Africa a millennia ago and its early days as an aid to religious devotion, coffee became an integral part of the rise of European mercantilism from the seventeenth-century onwards. As well as being a valued trading commodity, it was the preferred beverage of the merchants who did the trading. The rise of the coffee house and the City of London were inextricably, perhaps even mysteriously linked.
In Coffee Tales, Tony Wild delves into the chemistry of coffee and its mysterious properties. He travels to Yemen, the source of the history of coffee, where European traders made their way across the Tihama desert to sample the delights of this exotic drink. He explores references to coffee in ancient texts of the Bible, Egypt, Greece and Rome. Always the natural recourse of the subversive and revolutionary, Sulemein the Magnificent banned coffee in Constantinople – offenders were sewn up in sacks and thrown into the Bosphorus.
coffee as allegory for global greed and mercantile ruthlessness. To many people, coffee has become largely just another commodity. Coffee Tales will restore our faith in the mystery of this unique beverage, embedded deep in our history and our daily cultural life.
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Review:
'Wild manages an impressive mix of historical overview and contemporary analysis.' -- Time Out
About the Author:
Antony Wild is uniquely placed to write about the fascinating history of coffee. He has worked for thirteen years as a buying director for the country’s foremost speciality coffee roaster and introduced previously unheard-of coffees to the United Kingdom. He is Director of the East India Company and has written several books, including THE EAST INDIA COMPANY and REMAINS OF THE RAJ, both published by HarperCollins.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherFourth Estate
- Publication date2004
- ISBN 10 1841156493
- ISBN 13 9781841156491
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages336
- Rating
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Coffee : A Dark History
Published by
Fourth Estate
(2004)
ISBN 10: 1841156493
ISBN 13: 9781841156491
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.4. Seller Inventory # G1841156493I3N10
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Coffee : A Dark History
Published by
Fourth Estate
(2004)
ISBN 10: 1841156493
ISBN 13: 9781841156491
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Book Description Condition: Good. Missing dust cover, otherwise book is in good condition with some wear from normal use. Seller Inventory # 31URM8007XGS_ns
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Coffee: A Dark History
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Coffee: A Dark History This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9781841156491
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Coffee: A Dark History
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Fourth Estate
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ISBN 10: 1841156493
ISBN 13: 9781841156491
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Book Description Hardback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR003408883
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Coffee: A Dark History
Published by
Fourth Estate
(2004)
ISBN 10: 1841156493
ISBN 13: 9781841156491
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Used; Good. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Seller Inventory # CHL3953795
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Coffee: A Dark History
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9781841156491
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Coffee, A Dark History
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Fourth Estate, London
(2004)
ISBN 10: 1841156493
ISBN 13: 9781841156491
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. xi + 323 pages, illustrated and indexed, this is an excellent condition copy of Antony Wild's review of the worldwide coffee phenomenon. 1st UK edition, 1st printing. Very thorough and fascinating. Light spotting on top edge of text block, otherwise a near fine book. Seller Inventory # D452
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