The Language of Food: "Mouth-watering and sensuous, a real feast for the imagination" BRIDGET COLLINS

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'A sensual feast of a novel, written with elegance, beauty, charm and skill in a voice that is both lyrical and unique. The Language of Food is an intriguing story with characters that leap off the page and live, but what sets it apart from it's contemporaries is Abbs' outstanding prose'Santa Montefiore

Eliza Acton, despite having never before boiled an egg, became one of the worlds most successful cookery writers, revolutionizing cooking and cookbooks around the world. Her story is fascinating, uplifting and truly inspiring.

Told in alternate voices by the award-winning author of The Joyce Girl, and with recipes that leap to life from the page, The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs is the most thought-provoking and page-turning historical novel youll read this year, exploring the enduring struggle for female freedom, the power of female friendship, the creativity and quiet joy of cooking and the poetry of food, all while bringing Eliza Action out of the archives and back into the public eye.

I love Abbss writing and the extraordinary, hidden stories she unearths.Eliza Acton is her best discovery yetClare Pooley
'A feast for the senses, rich with the flavours of Victorian England, I prepared every dish with Eliza and Ann and devoured every page. A literary - and culinary- triumph!' Hazel Gaynor
Exhilarating to read - thoughtful, heart-warming and poignant, with a quiet intelligence and elegance that does its heroine proud Bridget Collins
'A sumptuous banquet of a book that nourished me and satisfied me just as Eliza Actons meals would have... I adored it' Polly Crosby
An effervescent novel, bursting with delectable language and elegant details about cookbook writer, Eliza Acton. Dont miss this intimate glimpse into the early English kitchens and snapshot of food history Sara Dahmen
Wonderful... Abbs is such a good story teller. She catches period atmosphere and character so wellVanessa Nicolson
'Two of my favourite topics in one elegantly written novel - womens lives and food history. I absolutely loved it' Polly Russell
'A story of courage, unlikely friendship and an exceptional character, told in vibrant and immersive prose' Caroline Scott
Richly imagined and emotionally tender Pen Vogler
'Characters that leap off the page, a fascinating story and so much atmosphere,you feel you're in thekitchen with Eliza - I loved it.' Frances Quinn
'Iwas inspired by Eliza's passion, her independence, her bravery and ambition. Like a cook's pantry, The Language of Food is full of wonderful ingredients, exciting possibilities and secrets. Full of warmth and as comforting as sitting by the kitchen range, I loved it' Jo Thomas
'A delightful read' Nina Pottell
'Clever, unsentimental, beautifully detailed and quietly riveting' Elizabeth Buchan, author of Two Women in Rome
A wonderful read John Torode

England 1835. Eliza Acton is a poet who dreams of seeing her words in print. But when she takes her new manuscript to a publisher, shes told that poetry is not the business of a lady. Instead, they want her to write a cookery book. Thats what readers really want from women. England is awash with exciting new ingredients, from spices to exotic fruits. But no one knows how to use them

Eliza leaves the offices appalled. But when her father is forced to flee the country for bankruptcy, she has no choice but to consider the proposal. Never having cooked before, she is determined to learn and to discover, if she can, the poetry in recipe writing. To assist her, she hires seventeen-year-old Ann Kirby, the impoverished daughter of a war-crippled father and a mother with dementia.

Over the course of ten years, Eliza and Ann developed an unusual friendship one that crossed social classes and divides and, together, they broke the mould of traditional cookbooks and changed the course of cookery writing forever.

Reviews

Best Feel Good Books of 2021'Washington Post

Best New Historical NovelsNew York Times
A compelling tale of friendship, freedom and foodBBC History Magazine

Based on real-life events, The Language of Food shines a light on the woman who invented the recipe as we know it today, and whose fascinating story has long been overlookedHistory Revealed Magazine

Based on the life of cookbook writer Eliza Acton, this is a really charming historical novel thats full of gorgeous recipes and descriptions of food. At its core is the heart-warming story of the class-defying friendship between Eliza and Ann Kirby, her kitchen helpGOOD HOUSEKEEPING

This charming story of a friendship that was formed in a kitchen is based on the real life of food writer and poet ElizaActon, who created one of Britains first cookery books. I loved the bond that she and her kitchen help Anna Kirby forge despite the huge difference in their class; theyre both very determined women. A fabulous historical novelPRIMA

Eliza Acton had never even boiled an egg so how did she become a successful cookery writer We find out in this beautiful fictionalisation of her life. It is 1835 and poet Eliza is told by her publisher to write a cookery book instead. Disheartened but determined, she hires teenagers Ann Kirby to help her. Over the next 10 years they develop a friendship that sees them change the face of cookery writing forever WOMAN & HOME

"Before Nigella, before Julia Childs, before even Mrs Beeton, there was Eliza Acton who dreams of being a poet but in 1835, the only way for her to get published and to keep her family in funds is to write a cookery book. To this end, Eliza takes on a maid, Ann Kirby, and forge an unlikely partnership even as Eliza embarks on writing what is now considered the first modern cookery book.Told from both Eliza and Anns voices,The Language Of Food, is a feast for the senses and also shows that its friendship, rather than food, that nourishes the soul. Julie And Julia but make it Victorian!" RED

Cleverly wearing together the story of how Modern Cookery for Private Families came to be written, the author divides the narrative voice between Acton and Kirby, her housemaid, two women from different backgrounds, but who share the same feelings of frustration and loneliness The pair are beautifully fleshed out characters, who become adept at the balancing of tastes, textures and unfamiliar spicesCOUNTRY LIFE

"A feast for the senses, this inspiring book is about friendship, passion and determination. I loved it!" MY WEEKLY

"The two womens exploration of food and friendship is winningly told and we are rooting for Eliza in her quest for independence and publishing success. The novel comes with some of Elizas recipes; and I can gluttonously report that the chocolate custards are as delicious as the novel" THE TIMES

Eliza Acton had never even boiled an egg, so how did she become of the top cookery writers of all time We find out in this beautiful fictionalisation of her life WOMANand WOMAN'S WEEKLY

Author Bio

Annabel Abbs is the new rising star of biographical historical novels. She grew up in Bristol, Sussex and Wales before studying English Literature at the University of East Anglia and Marketing at the University of Kingston. Her debut novel The Joyce Girl was a Guardian Readers Pick and her second novel Frieda: The Original Lady Chatterley earned critical acclaim including Times 2018 Book of the Year.She regularly appears on national and regional media, with recent appearances on Radio 4 Womans Hour and Sky News, and is popular on the literary festival circuit.She was longlisted for the Bath Novel Award, the Caledonia Novel Award and the Waverton GoodRead Award. Annabel lives in London with her husband and four children.