Chocolate: An Illustrated History [Hardcover]

Marcia Morton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What was once lauded by physicians as nutritious, imbibed but not eaten, and seasoned with pepper? In a detailed, lighthearted history, sans recipes, the Mortons (his books include The Forever Street, hers The Art of Viennese Cooking celebrate chocolate from Cortes's encounter with the treat at Montezuma's table in 1519 to the 1985 First International Chocolate Festival in Jerusalem. Abundant color and black-and-white illustrationswhich portray a turquoise mosaic mask of Quetzalcoatl, the god worshiped by the Aztecs as the giver of chocolate to the world, and The Cup of Chocolate, an 18th century painting by Nicolas Lancret, as well as the expected vat of chocolate, Sacher torte and candy boxesare more illuminating than the careless, rambling text ("Over in ancien regime France chocolate tripped along with the Bourbon kings"). Many absorbing nuggets are served up here but so is a lot of trivia: even confirmed chocoholics won't give two bonbons that cocoa trees grow as tall as 50 feet, cocoa blossoms are odorless and there are 20 to 40 cocoa beans in a pod. (May
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The Mortons trace the history of chocolate from its use as currency in Mexico in A.D. 600 to recent times. The book is lavishly illustrated with delectable reproductions, posters and labels for chocolate products, candies, the chocolate pot belonging to the queen of Louis XV, and more. Naturally, a whole chapter is devoted to the Hershey Company, with an additional chapter on the litigation over the original Sacher Torte between two famous names in Viennathe Hotel Sacher and Demel's Pastry Shop. The authors have succeeded in illustrating in words and pictures why this marvelous food has lived up to its botanical name Theobrama Cacao "food of the Gods." A light and entertaining choice for public libraries. Christine Bulson, SUNY at Oneonta Lib.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 170 pages
• Publisher: Random House Value Publishing (April 7, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517557657
• ISBN-13: 978-0517557655
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,028,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very Colorful book filled with pictures, December 11, 2002

By 

Stephanie Manley (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chocolate: An Illustrated History (Hardcover)

This book is filled with pictures detailing the history of chocolate. From when Christopher Columbus first tried chocolate up through making it and enjoying it in the form that we do now is covered. Chocolate was first enjoyed by the native americas as a cold beverage, it wasn't until it had been in Europe for 100 years did we begin to make it into the form that we know and love today.
Chocolate is filled with pictures that will make you tongue water. Many chocolate companies were kind enough to show their making process in the book. So perhaps this book is well suited for a younger audience. I am sure you will be the hit of any young person showing this book to them. Even the cover has all sorts of delightful chocolate treats on the cover. There are no recipes in this book, just tasty looking pictures and everything you want to know about chocolate.