Coffee: The Epic of a Commodity [Illustrated] [Paperback]

H Jacob (Author), Lynn Alley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 1998

This book follows coffee's trail around the world, from London to Brazil, telling in intriguing detail and curious anecdote the singular history of the legendary bean, from its beginnings a millenium ago, up to the 20th century.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jacob was a German poet, novelist and journalist who was based for some time in Vienna, still and ever the home of the coffeehouse. Coffee, for Jacob, was the "anti-Bacchus...the great resurrector, that gave me courage and vigor." In 1935, he and his friend, the publisher Ernst Rowohlt, contravened the Nazi ban on Jacob's work to publish his "documentary novel" of coffee. The author does a masterful job of tracing the popularity of coffee from Yemen through Europe and the Americas, recording its reputation not only within the commercial sphere but within the medical and religious ones as well. However, this is much more important as a glimpse of attitudes toward coffee in the '30s than as a general history: there is a heavier emphasis on Brazil than now seems appropriate, obviously no mention of developments of the past 65 years and some of Jacob's observations seem astonishingly naive?e.g., his argument that planters' numerous illegitimate children "prevented the extremity of mutual hatred between master and slave." The vintage?and the translation?also leads to awkward reading, with many exclamations and cliches, such as "their lot was not a happy one," "King Louis waxed angry" and the like. For readers who are consumed with curiosity about the origins, the ups and downs and the difficulties that coffee has faced over the centuries, this book is, however, quite satisfying. 75 b&w illustrations.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

With all due respect to alcohol, coffee is undoubtedly the world's favorite stimulant now and for all time. You can live without love, but most people can't live without coffee. Jacob's 1934 volume traces the history of the miraculous bean from olden days to modern times. The text, buttressed with 75 illustrations, includes a new introduction.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Burford Books (December 29, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158080070X
• ISBN-13: 978-1580800709
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #907,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars coffee in historical perspective, February 5, 2008

By 

P. Gachot (CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coffee: The Epic of a Commodity (Paperback)

This the first history of coffee I've ever read. I figure, I drink so much of the stuff, I may as well educate myself on it. I found the book completely fascinating, as it was just as much about world geography, European history and economic theory as it was about coffee. If you like those things, you will probably enjoy this book. If not, it may come across as a bit dry and obscure. For my caffeinated purposes it was just the ticket.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just black ma'am., May 13, 2003

By 

Paul Sacia (Cedar Key, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Coffee: The Epic of a Commodity (Paperback)

Coffee is best just black and smooth tasting, like this wonderful read. The author reveals intriguing information about the history of coffee through the rascals that discovered it, coveted it, and brought the savory bean to the world.