Pie : a global history /
Janet Clarkson.
- 136 pages : illustrations (some colour) ; 21 cm.
- Edible series .
- Edible. .
Includes bibliographical references (page 128) and index.
Prologue: preliminary observations on pie -- A brief history of pie -- The universal appeal of pie -- Pies by design -- Filling stuff -- Special occasion pies -- Around the world with pie -- Imaginary pies -- Epilogue: the future of the pie -- Recipes. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
"The pie, to quote one Victorian writer, is 'a great human discovery which has universal estimation among all civilized eaters'. It is astonishing, given the widespread appeal of this humble dish, that the pie does not appear to have had a single book devoted to its complex but fascinating story; this book redresses a glaring omission from culinary history. Pie explores the development of this most esteemed article of food, from its purely pragmatic (and no doubt somewhat ugly) beginnings in ancient history, to its present elevation as the highest expression of culinary art. Janet Clarkson does not shy away from the seamier side of the story, nor does she neglect the symbolic role of the pie, its commercial applications or its many international variations. The book touches upon the pie's nutritional value and its cultural significance - and it even has some fun with linguistics. A celebration of the pie as well as a hugely informative history, Pie taps into the increasingly popular vein of books on culinary history, and will satisfy the appetites of those with a particular interest in the history of food, as well as the more general reader interested in food and cookery."--Publisher's website.