In the Devil's Garden. A Sinful History of Forbidden Food

by Stewart Lee Allen (Author)

• Used

  Hardcover
  2002

  $3.44

  Here, for your delectation, is human history in its entirety - with every immoral side dish imaginable. From Stewart Lee Allen's 'menu' you can sample all seven deadly sins. Each freshly researched, well-seasoned with aromatic anecdotes and sizzling titbits - and brought to you piping hot from every culinary culture on the globe. Since God used the metaphor of Eve and the Forbidden Fruit to define human nature itself, our history has been peppered with food taboos that have shaped civilisations. As you pick from Allen's historical smorgasbord, you'll learn the important roles played by chocolate in the French revolution, how a spat between chefs caused a rift in the Catholic Church that lasted a thousand years and why Caesar fought food to save the world's mightiest empire.

• Used

  Paperback
  2003

  $3.44

  From the forbidden fruit of the Old Testament to the numerous laws broken at Francois Mitterand's final meal, In the Devil's Garden is a mouth-watering history of food taboos from around the world - a smorgasbord of culinary titbits to spice up any after-dinner conversation. In a history peppered with religious extremists who would rather starve to death than violate ancient taboos, and in an age when half the world's population - from cow-loving Hindus to Kosher Jews and Western vegetarians - still live with harsh dietary restrictions, Allen reveals just how significant, and pervasive, our relationship with food is.