Medieval Cook - Softcover

Henisch, Bridget A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1843838265 ISBN 13: 9781843838265

Publisher: Boydell Press, 2013

Synopsis

The figure of the medieval cook revealed, in the context of time and circumstance. Stylish and racy... An excellent book and a delight to read, written with panache and entirely convincing. Professor PETER COSS, Cardiff University. This book takes us into the world of the medieval cook, from the chefs in the great medieval courts and aristocratic households catering for huge feasts, to the peasant wife attempting to feed her family from scarce resources, from cooking at street stalls to working as hired caterers for privatefunctions. It shows how they were presented in the art, literature and moral commentary of the period (valued on some grounds, despised on others), how they functioned, and how they coped with the limitations and the expectationswhich faced them in different social settings. Particular use is made of their frequent appearance in the margins of illuminated manuscript, whether as decoration, or as a teaching tool.

About this title

Review

Bridget Henisch has tackled an enormous subject, the cook in western Europe, and expertly marshalled evidence throughout the medieval period. --Medium Aevum

It is an attractive piece of work, beautifully illustrated, making the subject highly approachable for the general reader. (...) A useful and highly entertaining introduction to the study of the necessity and artistry of cookery in the Middle Ages. --The Ricardian

An accessible overview of medieval culinary practice that will entertain and inform the general public. (...) The general audience will be seduced by the lively medley of cooks and kitchens the book presents. --The Medieval Review

Edition details

• Publisher: Boydell Press
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1843838265
• ISBN 13: 9781843838265
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256