Customer Reviews

The Muse in the Bottle

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Absolutely delightful collection of lore, legends, tales, poems, short stories, etc. about wine, beer, and the charm of "pub culture" in general. Beautifully produced and printed, brilliant choice of authors. Spans the ages from classical antiquity to the present, with such literary lights as Petronius, Fielding, Dickens, Twain, Chesterton, Lovecraft, Bradbury, McCourt, and many more. Best "surprise" was the very last story, ONE FOR THE ROAD, by newcomer Mark Alessio -- profound, atmospheric, gritty, masterfully constructed, everything a short story ought to be! Hope to see more by Alessio in the future. A book to be savored, slowly, along with a glass of your favorite vintage or brew -- buy and enjoy!

One's delight mounts as the collected works approach our own age. Lucius Beebe's report of vintage 1922 advice (e.g., "only show offs drink more than one bottle of champagne at breakfast") is typical of the delights of this collection. Hollywood is unlikely to show you an invasion from outer space brought to heel by the warmth of a humble tavern, but you can find that here. Many authors I have never read before are in these pages, and I plan to get to know other works by these folks based on the fine stories presented by Mr. Coulombe.

Charles Coulombe has given us a well edited selection of entertaining and humorous works on alcohol, filled with his witty comments which are almost as enjoyable as the selections presented!

It is unbelievable how enjoyable a glass of port, a fine wine or a fine imported beer Like Bass Pale Ale or New Castle Brown Ale can be with this book in your lap. Coulombe's writing is simply the best!

Fantastic anthology of drinking stories and reviews from known and yet to be known authors. Some uncommon appraoches to writing and amazing landscapes created by various authors. Especially enjoyed the story of the "Joss Bar" - anyone know where it is?

Excellent selection of great writers writing, referring to the depths of wine and spirits. I know everyone now says that everything is a "must", but this is.

Charles is a wordsmith, a scribe, and a man-of-letters! Don't be fooled by the Baccalian frontispiece and the epicurean content, this book is a joy from cover to back! Although the Puritan influence on America still influences teetotaler and abject drunkard alike (and for different reasons,) truthfully, a timely drink is one of the timeless joys of life! Great men, from Jesus to Pope Benedict XVI have enjoyed wine and beer in varying degrees and varying measures.

Consider: Jesus' first public miracle, at the behest of His Mother, was to turn, in modern parlance, barrel upon barrel of water into good wine at a wedding feast. Clearly Christ considered grapes worthy of fermentation!

Enjoy this fine compilation!