A review by cookreadrepeat
The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 The Language of Food is an incredible read that combines the delicate, lyrical verse of poetry with the comforts and creativity of recipe creation and food. Annabel Abbs’ research into how cookery books evolved looks into the life of unmarried Eliza Acton, her housemaid and companion Ann Kirby and their journey to create a cookbook that not only contains delicious recipes but is easy to follow for all users of the kitchen.


I’m not going to lie, reading this book made me hungry. The way Abbs describes each dish is, as intended like poetry. Told from two points of view, we as the reader are transported to early Victorian England. The book starts and ends with Ann, yet Eliza Acton is the main focus. It is she after being rejected by her publisher that is the creator of modern cookery books. We are all aware of Mrs Beeton and the popularity of her own cookery book, yet I was amazed to discover that her recipes were not originally written by her.


Despite this, The Language of Food is a sad tale where we discover the realities of mental health, how women are viewed and that the expectations of daughters are crippling. And, yet, Eliza doesn’t care about any of it. Not even when the option for marriage is handed to her on a silver platter. For her, her independence and the ability to make her own choices far outweighs her mother’s desire to see her married. I had a love/hate relationship with Eliza. I found her passion for creative writing and food inspiring, and yet she was oblivious to the realities of those less fortunate to her. This is a product of her comfortable childhood and expensive education.


Poor, destitute and poorly educated, Ann, is all that Eliza is not. After struggling to manage a mother suffering from advanced dementia and other mental illnesses, she is forced to work for the Acton women under the belief that her mother is to be cared for at the new asylum in Kent. What we know now, of asylums is that her mother was not living in luxury with good food, dedicated nurses and regular doctor’s visits and that her death though tragic could have been prevented.


Each recipe was so beautifully crafted and described that it felt like you could taste each ingredient, in the same way, a line of poetry can paint a picture. It also shows just how much work goes into creating a cookery book. They are items that we take for granted for they are all so easily accessible. We, as cooks and readers can go into any shop and pick up a cookbook with ease. Yet, in Victorian England, cookbooks were scarce, and any that were available contained measurements and foods that boggled the mind.


Every page, every line and chapter is infused with the perfumed scent of vanilla, the rich tang of a perfectly crafted gravy and dusted with the finest of powdered sugar. It is a feast for the eyes as well as for the stomach.


If you like historical fictional novels and have a passion for food whether that’s dabbling in the kitchen, or eating out at restaurants, then this is the book for you. I highly guarantee that you will not regret picking up and indulging in this book, just as I have.
























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