Miss Eliza's English Kitchen by Annabel Abbs

    A Novel of Victorian Cookery and Friendship

This story brings true figures of Eliza Acton, poet and pioneering cookery writer, and Ann Kirby, her assistant. They both worked on a cookery book which is known as “the greatest British cookbook of all time.” It was an international bestseller and her books had a profound influence on later cookery writers.

England, 1837. Eliza, at thirty-six, dreams to publish her poems with an international publisher, but she is asked to write a cookery book instead, more fit for women. A bit appalled by this suggestion, she returns home humiliated, only to find out that her father has just become a bankrupt. But then, when seeing badly written recipes and sounding unappetizing, after all writing a cookery book might not be a bad idea. And for that she needs a scullery maid.

Ann, at seventeen, cares for her parents and dreams about being a cook. A vicar suggests to Ann a position of underhousemaid that might be available with a new family taking up residence in Tonbridge.

Eliza with her gift for writing notices that the way the recipes are written is not practical. She decides to list the ingredients separately. And with the help of Ann, they test the same recipe a few times with slight changes: adjusting the cooking times, seasonings, and quantities, to make it most pleasant for the palate.

Ann enjoys working under the guidance of Eliza, thriving in the kitchen, and even giving suggestions for mixing new ingredients when asked.

Told in alternate voices, this novel brings endearing friendship, the joy of cookery and creativity with food; and with limited options for spinsters, it also means certain independence.

The voices of both women are very touching. Eliza is very warm and encouraging, taking Ann under her wings. Ann appreciates Eliza’s warmness and kindness, but at the same time still feels guilty for not taking care of her parents. You can sense how much she tries to stay strong, never revealing her troubled past.

When the women prep the food and discuss ingredients with final touches, you can visualize it on a tray with its tasty aroma filling the house. The atmosphere of the cookery evokes your senses of taste and smell. When Eliza savors the six course French dinner, she eats it so slowly devouring its intricacies and complexities to a point that you want to grab that food and taste it yourself. The friendship between two women makes you want to join them in their endeavors.

This page-turner filled with divine aromas and tastes is superbly written and thoroughly enjoyable, bringing two inspiring women.

Release date: 26 October 2021

Source: William Morrow Paperback