The Haggis

by Clarissa Dickson Wright

The author, one of the "Two Fat Ladies" of television cookbook fame, handles the history of the haggis with aplomb in this little cookbook. Haggis, for the unititated, is a dish commonly made in a sheep's maw, of minced lungs, hearts, and liver of the same animal.

However, the haggis is much more than a mere meal.

The haggis, or some version of it, may be found in the histories of countries as varied as ancient Greece, Sweden, and the United States. Yet the haggis is most closely associated with Scotland and has come to represent that country just as pasta represents Italy.

Scotland may thank its beloved bard, Robert Burns, for this. Burns immortalized the dish in perhaps his best-known poem, "Address to the Haggis." In it, he refers to the haggis as the "Great Chieftan o' the Puddin'-race!"

How far the haggis had come!

Originally a meal of the lower classes who could not afford to waste any edible portion of their livestock, the haggis mysteriously transformed into a delicacy deemed worthy of royalty. Queen Victoria, an enthusiast for most all things Scottish, said of the haggis, "I find I like it very well."

Genres: Food, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, History, Cooking

92 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Clarissa Theresa Philomena Aileen Mary Josephine Agnes Elsie Trilby Louise Esmerelda Dickson Wright is an English celebrity chef and food historian who is best known as one half, along with Jennifer Paterson, of the Two Fat Ladies. Having trained as a lawyer, at the age of 21, Dickson Wright passed her exams and became the country's youngest barrister. She is also one of only two women in England to become a guild butcher.

Reviews

[Sam U]

Entertaining and educational.

[Jennifer]

Brief, yet complete with the famous poem, and entertaining as it is informative.

[Stephanie Harris]

Glad I ate haggis before I found out what is unit! :) Interesting and informative read!

[Esther]

Delightful book which can easily be read in one sitting.