Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Fasting and Feasting: The Life of Visionary Food Writer Patience Gray” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Fasting and Feasting: The Life of Visionary Food Writer Patience Gray

Adam Federman

3.73 · Rating details · 130 ratings · 25 reviews

For more than thirty years, Patience Gray--author of the celebrated cookbook Honey from a Weed--lived in a remote area of Puglia in southernmost Italy. She lived without electricity, modern plumbing, or a telephone, grew much of her own food, and gathered and ate wild plants alongside her neighbors in this economically impoverished region. She was fond of saying that she w ...more

Get A Copy

Hardcover, 400 pages

Published September 8th 2017 by Chelsea Green Publishing Company (first published June 2nd 2017)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Fasting and Feasting, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Fasting and Feasting

Lists with This Book

The Firebrand and the First Lady by Patricia Bell-Scott

Katharina and Martin Luther by Michelle DeRusha

Eleanor Roosevelt, Volume 3 by Blanche Wiesen Cook

Stories of Mighty Women from "A mighty GIRL" (May 5 2019 version) PART 2

42 books — 1 voter

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

Guardian Best Book 2017 (Part One)

64 books — 27 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.73 ·

Rating details

· 130 ratings · 25 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Fasting and Feasting: The Life of Visionary Food Writer Patience Gray

Nov 29, 2017 Chrissie rated it it was amazing

I was completely unprepared for what a wonderful read this would be. I had never heard of Patience Gray until I came across an article recently about her. It intrigued me enough to buy this book and I am so incredibly glad I did. In Patience Gray I found a kindred wild spirit, and her story an inspiration on how to live an authentic life. She was genuine to the core, and lived her life as such.
Her knowledge of food also far surpassed your typical recipe writing. Throughout her life she took th ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jan 11, 2018 Lisa rated it really liked it

What an interesting life, and a piece of food writing history that I wasn't aware of. Gray sounds like a real piece of work, and to Federman's credit he lets you read between the lines when it comes to her persona and never pushes an opinion. In a way that light touch makes this a flatter biography than it could have been, but I like the room for ambiguity around what kind of person she was as reflected by the truly hardcore lifestyle she and her partner adopted in the name of art and authentici ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 17, 2018 Grace rated it liked it

I was really excited to read this book when I read the description for it... but as soon as I opened it I knew it was not going to be an easy read. I definitely am so interested in Patience Gray; she is a fascinating person and definitely deserving of acclaim and having a biography written about her. I don't think Federman did the best job in making it readable, though. He put in too much extraneous information--too many names... it seemed more like a thesis than a biography to read for pleasure ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 13, 2018 Linda Zuckerman rated it it was ok

Patience Gray is perhaps one of the most fastinating people I have never heard of. She lived the simple lifestyle even before hippies came to it. The book itself namedrops quite a bit and it wasn’t until the very end that I was familiar with some of the context. However, it makes me want to read Patience Gray’s original food books, Plat du Jour and Honey from a Weed.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 17, 2018 MaryJo rated it really liked it

This is a biography of the elusive Patience Gray. She was born in England, raised two kids as a single mother (with a lot of help from her own mother) during and after WWII,. In the 1950s she was part of the arts and literature scene: she sold some designs for textiles and wall paper, taught at an art school, and even wrote for the Observer. In 1958 she met Norman Mommens, and the two of them began a life together. Norman was a sculptor and in the early 1960s they began to explore places to live This is a biography of the elusive Patience Gray. She was born in England, raised two kids as a single mother (with a lot of help from her own mother) during and after WWII,. In the 1950s she was part of the arts and literature scene: she sold some designs for textiles and wall paper, taught at an art school, and even wrote for the Observer. In 1958 she met Norman Mommens, and the two of them began a life together. Norman was a sculptor and in the early 1960s they began to explore places to live near marble. They lived in Naxos in Greece, and Carrara in Italy, then the the spring of 1970 they moved to remote Puglia, at the bottom of the heel of the boot that is Italy, where Patience spent the last 35 years of her life. They bought 11 acres of deserted land, with stone buildings which had last been used to shelter animals. The place had no running water or electricity, although it did have olive trees. With the help of neighbors they learned how to produce their own food and wine. Patience was an avid forager, and she devoted herself to learning the names and uses of the edible weeds and fungi. Patience thought of herself as an anarchist, but both she and Norman dreamed of a community of artists. Norman had students who came to work with him, and he exhibited at the Venice Biennial some years, and occasionally showed his work, despite the difficulties of transport. Patience maintained an extensive correspondence with friends and writers in England. She had done some food writing, and published a successful cookbook with a co author in 1957 (She was compared with Elizabeth David, in part because she sought to bring Mediterranean food to the British Isles). She was recognized as having a distinctive voice. Early in her travels with Norman she bean to work on a second Mediterranean cookbook, which she called "Fasting and Feasting". This book included her research on wild plants. She had a nearly completed draft by the time they arrived in Puglia, and she circulated it among editors (including Judith Jones who had done so much to bring books on European food the the US). Many appreciated it, but no one could see a market for it. The book went through extensive rewriting after she moved to Puglia, and she kept in touch with the growing food scene in England and the US hoping to find a publisher. It was finally published in 1986, by Prospect Books. Her editor there, Alan Davidson was a serious food scholar and Patience respected his extensive editorial comments. It was he who found the title for the book in a poem by Cowper. Federman comments that it captures Patience's long love affair with wild plants and her reverence for them, her desire to capture something of deeper meaning from them. Patience became a kind of celebrity in certain parts of the food world, but she and Norman maintained their subsistence way of life. According to this book, she did not romanticize their existence, and she and Norman were very concerned about the costs of the out migration of labor, then later, the degradation of the land first through pollution, and then increasing tourism. Federman interviews many of the people who knew Patience and Norman, especially Patience's children. He also uses a lot of her correspondence in order to tell a story about her writing and attempts to get her work published. I have tremendous respect for his scholarship in writing this book, which I found, on the whole, compelling. The beginning third was a bit of a slog for me, especially the part about life in London which full of names of people I did not know. I kept reading, enticed to learn more about this unusual person who moves further and further away from her peers, family and friends fueled by a kind of passion for her art (even when sshe is not exactly sure what it is she wants to do) and unwillingness to compromise. One gets the impression of a tremendously stubborn, tenacious, and hard working woman. I cannot imagine the shear effort of subsistence agriculture (hauling water from the cistern to water the plants during the hot dry summers for decade after decade) while at the same time trying to maintain a writing career, and feed the increasing numbers of people who came to visit, anticipating an extraordinary meal. It is provocative to think about this woman who lives in a house heated by an open fireplace, with no electricity arguing with her publisher about the quality of the paper to be used in her book. I feel a certain amount of awe when I imagine that life. I am also very eager to read (and cook from) Honey from A Weed, as her book was titled when it was finally published. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 16, 2018 Laura rated it it was amazing

This is the most refreshing book I've read in a long time. Not being a a person who follows food writing, I was delighted by the life and values of Patience Gray. She started a movement that in my opinion continues today with organic gardening, slow food and a true connection to the land. I am looking forward to reading Honey from a Weed, which I hope will be more available, than it is now. A toast. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 03, 2018 Elizabeth rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction

Patience Gray, whose work I have not read, comes across here as sometimes brilliant, but also difficult and distant. Despite careful research, the biographer cannot seem to bring her to life--perhaps because she did not, in the end, wish to be known except among her chosen intimates.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 11, 2018 Denise rated it liked it

Shelves: food-writing

Although an interesting book, it was not what I expected. I was hoping for more connections to culinary arts.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 06, 2019 Nicola Pierce rated it liked it · review of another edition

I had never heard of her at all but after I ordered Artemis Cooper's biography Elizabeth David online, the Patrience Gray biography popped up as a prompt that I duly responded to. The blurb excited me and I couldn't wait to start it. However, shortly after I did, I became impatient to finish it. I'm trying to diagnose the problem. Well, alright, so Patience Gray isn't very likeable but then seems to mellow out in her twilight years, hosting impromptu dinner parties with husband Norma. And she wo ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 18, 2019 Melina Watts rated it it was amazing

"Honey from a Weed," by Patience Gray is a long time favorite, so I was so happy to hear that Federman had written a bio. I'm only half way through, but am at "the good part" in terms of learning who she was when she birthed that book: she's met The Sculptor and now I will find out how they made the daring decision to bail on England and move to the Mediterranean, I hope to learn who the local people were who inspired her archaic wild recipes, and see into the day to day life of this dreamy art "Honey from a Weed," by Patience Gray is a long time favorite, so I was so happy to hear that Federman had written a bio. I'm only half way through, but am at "the good part" in terms of learning who she was when she birthed that book: she's met The Sculptor and now I will find out how they made the daring decision to bail on England and move to the Mediterranean, I hope to learn who the local people were who inspired her archaic wild recipes, and see into the day to day life of this dreamy art dominated era. It means so much to me to find out that that she chose to embrace this adventursome path in her early 50s. Forget planning a retirement for the next decade, she burst into full bloom.

I had no idea she had her children out of wedlock in the WWII era in England that's stunningly brave or impulsive or iconoclastic, really. Learning how she put together a life as an artist, writer, cook, parent, lover, friend...I'm fascinated. She want from excruciating loneliness living in isolation in the countryside to the heart of London culture...but kept her affection for mushrooms and gathering herbs and wild foods and that drive to conneyouct cooking to nature is what makes her such a stand out writer. I cannot wait until i have a moment for the next chapter...

10/23
i just finished the book. Nothing does beginning, middle and end like a great biography.
The research, the writing, the deft reveal of character and events make this a fine book.

Many complicated feelings about Ms. Gray's life, complete adoration of her most famous book. I guess that kind of kaleidoscope of response is what a fine biography elicits.

10/31
As someone who has tried to prioritize raising my own children over writing, but still tried to put writing first, and yet to make a living, address environmental concerns and thrive, and sometimes failed to be enough for my own kids, some of Patience Gray's life choices make for a rough read, and yet as a fan of her work, I must be grateful. That's a tough cocktail to sip.

I think the end photo, last page of the book, sums up the author's response to all of Patience Gray's life perfectly. No comments, no judgements, just this one image. ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 05, 2017 Jill Blevins rated it it was amazing

Some biographies are written as novels, some are written as a PhD thesis; this one is more in the latter category. Although I'm interested in women's history and how pioneers in their fields proceed along their ground-breaking journeys, sometimes it's not the facts and the names and the dates, but the ideas and the mistakes and the thoughts that you really crave. This was so informative, perhaps too informative for my interest, as I kind of got bored reading about so many people and so many peop ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 03, 2018 Liz V. rated it did not like it

A book to read in electronic format, as names are dropped with little more than one word tags, although Wikipedia and obituaries don't get the reader very far in some instances.

As well, Gray comes across as a singularly unattractive person. Self described as an anarchist, Gray may have been so politically. Her security file has gone missing. There can be no doubt, though, that Gray lobbed emotional bombs throughout her life. Indeed, when reference was made to friends, I took this to mean Norman' ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 04, 2021 Liz M rated it it was amazing

This book is a slog through the countless details of Patience Gray’s personal history and background while giving an understanding of the reactionary British intellectual who left society in search of a simpler life in postwar rural Italy & Greece.

Other reviews criticize the book for its ‘name dropping’ but Federman gives an understanding of the people who influenced Patience Gray as well as the social & cultural context from which ‘Honey from a Weed’ arose. Federman expands upon Gray’s social a ...more

flag Like · see review

May 18, 2019 Lisa rated it liked it

Shelves: food, memoir-ish, non-fiction, gave-up

I wanted to like this more. The early part of the book is slightly interesting however there is so much name dropping of British historical figures that are completely unknown to me that it becomes a bit of a slog. Patience isn't exactly an endearing personality. She's clearly Meandering through life not with a clear destination in mind. The second half of the book was beginning to focus in on her move to southern Italy which was the peace I was most interested in. Then, because it's a library b ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 01, 2018 Cardie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: challenge-for-2018

A bit miraculous since Patience Gray lived in such a remote area of Italy most of her life. She succeeded in a connection with making a remarkable life based on her connections to people, plants, the earth and art. I don’t know if someone like her can exist today but if they do I want them to be my friend. So hopefully ahead of her time her spirit/impact could alter the current trajectory of consumerism, waste and pillage. She is an inspiration. Amazing writing and research. All these people! Th ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 13, 2019 Meg K. rated it really liked it

I'm not sure why I picked up this book, but I'm glad I did. Though extremely detailed and including so many people I couldn't keep track of them all, the story of Patience Gray was sad, serious, joyous, dark, light.....what a life she lived. The focus on her devotion to food, wine and the simple things in life was refreshing. I'm looking forward to reading "Honey From A Weed" and hope that is just as intriguing. ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 04, 2018 Kelly L. rated it it was ok

It was interesting to learn about Patience Gray. She led such an eccentric life, impacting the world of food even though she lived remotely. I think this book could have been a page-turner, but it was more of a chronological account of her life than a story which would have appealed to my taste a bit more.

flag Like · see review

Jul 03, 2019 Brenna rated it it was ok

I've tried reading this book many times but am having trouble getting through it. It feels as if the author's focus is more name dropping than a true focus of who Patience actually was. As far as I can tell Patience was a solitary type person and liked living in the shadows even if she had many influential friends. ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 18, 2020 Naomi Toftness rated it did not like it

Gave up- I just could NOT get into it. I think you already need to know about Patience Gray to appreciate this book. I just wish there had been a chapter in the beginning that just demonstrated why I should care about this person's life before there was listing of her grandparents. ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 01, 2019 William rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag Like · see review

Jan 12, 2018 Amy-Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: may-pick-this-up-again, non-fiction

Patience Gray is an eccentric woman who led a fascinating life. I read only a third before I had to return this to the library. (Ugh!) Will definitely finish.

flag Like · see review

Jun 09, 2018 Vanessa rated it it was amazing

Fascinating woman and life.

flag Like · see review

Jan 15, 2018 Rebecca Stilson added it

Shelves: wednesday-club-scanned-only

Couldn’t get into it. Trying to read on flight back from London

actually kept scanning and fairly interesting

flag Like · see review

Mar 31, 2018 Jeanne rated it liked it

I kept reading because I was deeply interested in this iconic and iconoclastic woman's life and work. Despite the many irritating flaws in the telling of the story: Repetitive reminders about the identity of the people mentioned, unnecessary recaps of situations recounted a few pages earlier...I have seldom finished a book that was so replete with redundancies outside of undergraduate papers with an assigned minimum word count. Yet Patience Gray was an irritating, not particularly likable person ...more

flag Like · see review