An engagingly written and fully illustrated book on medieval attitudes toward food, its preparation and presentation. Few readers with an interest in food will fail to find this book both informative and entertaining.Since attitudes toward food were shaped by the religious and social ideas of the period, the medieval perspective is clearly developed for the modem reader and, in turn, sheds light on the character of life in the Middle Ages. The subject is explored from the varied points of view of all concerned: host, guest, cook, and servant.The author drew her material from many primary sources: devotional literature, sermons, courtesy books, recipe collections, household accounts, chronicles, and romances. Most of the documentary material comes from works written in England during the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries, but there is some reference to those of other periods and other countries.
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''The topic is vividly described and plentifully illustrated.'' --Manuscripta
''Although it is neither a detective story nor primarily a humorous work, there are elements of each in this lively and scholarly book on the broader aspects of food in the Middle Ages. . . . If you would life to know how and when people fasted, . . . you can read about it here. You can also learn when to spit and how to share a drinking vessel with your neighbor with some delicacy. What was a banquet like? . . . If you are intrigued by any of this and much more besides, this is the book for you.'' --Petits Propos Culinaires
A fascinating narrative of food and life five centuries ago. . . . This book is highly recommended to dietitians, nutritionists, lovers of food history, and students of medieval life and literature.'' --Journal of the American Dietetic Association
''Although it is neither a detective story nor primarily a humorous work, there are elements of each in this lively and scholarly book on the broader aspects of food in the Middle Ages. . . . If you would life to know how and when people fasted, . . . you can read about it here. You can also learn when to spit and how to share a drinking vessel with your neighbor with some delicacy. What was a banquet like? . . . If you are intrigued by any of this and much more besides, this is the book for you.'' --Petits Propos Culinaires
A fascinating narrative of food and life five centuries ago. . . . This book is highly recommended to dietitians, nutritionists, lovers of food history, and students of medieval life and literature.'' --Journal of the American Dietetic Association
About the Author
Bridget Ann Henisch is author of Medieval Armchair Travels (Carnation Press) and Cakes and Characters (Prospect Books) and co-author of The Photographic Experience, 1839-1914 (Penn State).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining and Informative,
By A Customer
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Fast and Feast: Food in Medieval Society (Paperback)
This meticulously-researched book on medieval food customs not only contains a great deal of useful information for anyone wanting more information on the era, but is almost as readable as a novel. The author has a great style, both humorous and knowledgable, and the text is enhanced with illustrations from manuscripts of the period. This is not a "plan your own medieval feast" recipe book but a meticulous and engaging look at medieval attitudes about food, food storage and preparation, and what really went on in the hall and in the kitchen. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the period.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Scholarly lite,
By Gary P. (Utah) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Fast and Feast: Food in Medieval Society (Paperback)
Is it good? Oh, it's good. Gets cumbersome in places but the author maintains a lighthearted and rather even-handed tone. The author occasionally wanders dangerously into dull academese, but then rescues the prose with brilliant anecdotes. Don't expect any hard data - read and enjoy the hundreds of snapshots depicting a life long gone.
As for content: It's positively shocking to read about the social disapproval that came simply with eating before lunch, eating too much, and eating the wrong foods. It horrifies a modern reader to see the tremendous and baseless sacerdotal interference in nutrition throughout the Middle Ages. Ponder the role of churchmen who feel they had nothing better to do than offer proscriptions on how, what, and when to eat. And then ponder how our generation has outdone even them in associating guilt and shame with the love of food...
3.0 out of 5 stars
Full of information, but thick reading,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Fast and Feast: Food in Medieval Society (Paperback)
I thought this would be a great source of information on the topic, and it is. It's just rather thickly written. So take your time with it.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
While his poem Childe Harold was at the height of its success, Byron noted ruefully in his journal: The . . . Edinburgh bookseller once sent an order for books, poesy, and cookery, with this agreeable postscript: 'The Harold and Cookery are much wanted.' Read the first page Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
While his poem Childe Harold was at the height of its success, Byron noted ruefully in his journal: The . . . Edinburgh bookseller once sent an order for books, poesy, and cookery, with this agreeable postscript: 'The Harold and Cookery are much wanted.' Read the first page Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
30
books
cite this book:
See all 30 books citing this book
- Food in Medieval Times (Food through History) by Melitta Weiss Adamson on page 77, page 176, and Back Matter
- Creating Community With Food and Drink in Merovingian Gaul by Bonnie Effros in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- The Byzantine Lists: ERRORS OF THE LATINS (Illinois Medieval Studies) by Tia M. Kolbaba on page 74, and Back Matter
- The "Domostroi": Rules for Russian Households in the Time of Ivan the Terrible by Carolyn Johnston Pouncy on page 139, and Back Matter
- Daily Life in Medieval Europe (The Greenwood Press Daily Life Through History Series) by Jeffrey L. Forgeng in Back Matter
See all 30 books citing this book
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