Mrs. Charles Darwin's Recipe Book: Revived and Illustrated

by Dusha Bateson

More than a cookbook, the Mrs. Charles Darwin's Recipe Book delineates a lifestyle at the top of English society and intelligentsia at the time. This treasure trove that includes unlikely dishes such as Turnips Cresselly and Penally Pudding contains, even, another cook evident in the The recipe for boiling rice is in Charles Darwin's own hand. The image of Darwin standing over a pot of boiling water with his pocket watch in hand, is one to savor, along with every other vestige of a lost kitchen and lifestyle come back to life here.

144 pages, Hardcover

First published November 25, 2008

Reviews

[Christea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, lovely illustration. This was a good reason and it was a nice peek into the lives of some amazing people.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book, even after my husband said he heard Mrs. Darwin wasn't a very good cook and that was why he spent so much time on the Beagle (ha ha). I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more substance to the book. There aren't many recipes, but reading about the Darwins was interesting.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not really a cookbook (although it does contain recipes). It is more of a glimpse into the cooking styles, domestic demands, and logistics of preparing meals for a fairly wealthy family in Darwin's time. A fascinating glimpse into the kitchens of Victorian England.

[Donna Jo Atwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful if rather meager number of recipes. The commentary on the Darwin's family life was interesting as well.