In 1615 the poet and writer Gervase Markham published an extraordinary handbook for
housewives, containing advice on everything from planting herbs to brewing beer, feeding
animals to distilling perfume, with recipes for a variety of dishes such as trifle, pancakes
and salads (not to mention some amusingly tart words on how the ideal wife should behave).
Aimed at middle-class women who would share in household tasks with their
servants in the kitchen, this companionable and opinionated book offers a richly enjoyable
glimpse of the way we lived, worked and ate 400 years ago.
Throughout the
history of civilization, food has been more than simple necessity. In countless cultures, it
has been livelihood, status symbol, entertainment - and passion. In the GREAT FOOD series,
Penguin brings you the finest food writing from the last 400 years, and opens the door to
the wonders of every kitchen.
Visit www.penguin.co.uk/greatfood and start collecting the Great Food series.
