The Taste of Dreams: An Obsession with Russia and Caviar
By (Author) Vanora Bennett
Headline Publishing Group
Headline Review
1st November 2003
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
European history
Cookery / food and drink / food writing
Biography: general
914.70486
288
Width 222mm, Height 142mm, Spine 25mm
200g
Both a coming-of-age adventure of time spent in search of the romantic Russia the author had dreamed about, and a tale of eye-opening amazement as she discovers and gets caught up in the new, anarchic Russia emerging from its Soviet constraints. At its heart is the story of caviar: beluga, the rarest type of sturgeon harvested from the Caspian Sea, is now an endangered species, and no one knows how - or wants - to stop the plunder. People kill for it. Beautifully written, drawing on personal experience and intent observation, Vanora Bennett's critical and literary powers deliver a stunning read.
'[A] darkly seductive tour through new Russia... As a political and social commentator Bennett is shrewd and humane, but she is equally accurate, heartfelt and knowing describing the tastes of caviar - full of promise and mystery; the taste of dreams' [Book of the Week] - The Times (Play)
Vanora Bennett has written an original and hypnotically readable book to celebrate her obsession with Russia and caviar - The Sunday TimesThe writing is both fresh and acutely observant... Enormously engaging... this is a charming read, a highly personal take on a disturbing subject - SpectatorBennett has a marvellous feel for language... the book is propelled by the sheer vigour - and often virtuosity - of the writing - Financial TimesVanora Bennett writes for The Times of London, and has been a Moscow correspondent for Reuters and the Los Angeles Times. She is the author of CRYING WOLF: THE RETURN OF WAR TO CHECHNYA (Picador 1998).