A review by mg_in_md_
John Saturnall's Feast by Lawrence Norfolk

4.0

This charming historical fiction tale set against the backdrop of the English Civil War drew me in right away. It had a fairy tale feel to it that enhanced the plot without getting bogged down by inserting a string of historical factoids. The story centers around John Saturnall whose mother was a masterful cook who taught him how to make beautiful meals from the bounties of the forest. They are forced to live almost in exile though because local villagers believe his mother to be a witch. John's life changes when she passes away and he is taken in as a kitchen boy at Buckland Manor, home to Sir William Freemantle and his daughter, Lucretia. John is taken under the wing of the manor's Master Cook, Richard Scovell, and shows a remarkable talent. Mysteries of his mother's past, his family heritage, and The Feast are ultimately revealed in the kitchen. As the Civil War comes to a head, John's past and present collide and the reader wonders what his future will hold. Fellow foodies will enjoy the fact that each chapter is preceded by a short excerpt from "The Book of John Saturnall" that describes a dish and its inspiration. The kitchen scenes are reminiscent of excerpts from contemporary memoirs by professional chefs and the reader can almost smell and taste the scrumptious meals being prepared. The book itself is gorgeous. The artful red print and etchings gave the book an old feel and made it seem like it could have been written long ago. I thoroughly enjoyed this delightfully inventive and magical tale, and I would definitely seek out other books by this author if this is an indication of his other works.